For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
