Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
