Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
