Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
