Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
