Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses 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 relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining