For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive 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, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when 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 building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
