Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. 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 over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
