Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
