For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant 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 conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
