Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
