Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
