Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent 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 had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable