For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
