Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
