The streaming giant's Unexpected Latest Zombie Film Breathes Fresh Air into a Stale Style

For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining