For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of 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 movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close 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 brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
