Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
