Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
