For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
