🔗 Share this article

Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining