For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
