For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
