For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
