Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
