Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
