Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
