Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
