For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style 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 devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
