Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
