Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
