Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of 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 film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation 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 films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
