Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
