For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
