Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "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 films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
