Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
