For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
