For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel 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 toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
