Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
