The streaming giant's Unexpected New Zombie Film Breathes New Life into a Tired Style

For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable