Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and 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 works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
