For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted 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, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic 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 for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
