For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
