For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is 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 marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
