For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
