Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict 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!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. 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 decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
