Generally speaking, I've had my fill of 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 at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
