For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
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 I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
