Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
