Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
