Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
