For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—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, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
