🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, 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 lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they 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 instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable