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 were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
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 some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
