Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
