Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular 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 gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
