Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
