Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
