Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about 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 along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
