For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. 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 conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
