Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
