Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
