Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
