Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
