Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
