For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals 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 relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
