Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
