Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still 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. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
