🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining