Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved 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 films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
