Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
