Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
