Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
