For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect 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, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
