🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable