Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly 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 what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
