Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
