Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect 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 decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about 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 location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
