Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough 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 wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
