For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear 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 meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
