Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic 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 cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
