Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
