Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
