Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
