For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
