Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
