For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
