The streaming giant's Surprising New Undead Film Injects Fresh Air into a Overused Style

Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable