Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
