Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters 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 doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic 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 frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
