Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "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 movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
