Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
