Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
