Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
