Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide 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 amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
