Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
