🔗 Share this article

Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining