For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
