For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
