For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
