For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
