Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining