For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's 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 lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation 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 movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
