Netflix's Startling Latest Zombie Film Breathes Fresh Air into a Stale Style

For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable