Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know 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 family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
