Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
