Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical 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, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
