Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—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, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial 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 turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally 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 nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
