Typically, 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 exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
