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 proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
