Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion 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 end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
