For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
