Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
