Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
