Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
