For the most part, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
