Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness 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 admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
