Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
