Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "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 relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
