Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
