For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly 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 frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
