Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of 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 message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
