Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
