Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
