For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby 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 building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
