For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
