For the most part, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
