Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic 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 movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
