For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
