For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 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 subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of 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. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of 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 explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
