Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. 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 highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust 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.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, 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.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
