Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
