For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
