Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up 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—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
