Netflix's Surprising New Undead Flick Injects Fresh Air into a Overused Genre

Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent 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 location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable