For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
