Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 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 gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—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 good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
