For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
