For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby 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 building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
