For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
