Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even 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, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
