For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
