Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining