Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
