Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
