For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just 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 real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
