For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming 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 pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
