For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
