For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn 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 deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
