Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
