For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
