For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
