Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic 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!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
