Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
