Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
