Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. 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 eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid 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 prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
