Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
