For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
