Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. 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 remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable