For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining