For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, 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! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
