Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
