Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created 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 focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
