The streaming giant's Surprising Latest Zombie Flick Injects Fresh Air into a Tired Style

For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat 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.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building 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 a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable