Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
