Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
