For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
