For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
