For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus 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 you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
