Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
