For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't 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 family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
