For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid 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 rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
