For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
