Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen 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 over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
