Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
