Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
