Netflix's Surprising Latest Undead Film Injects New Life into a Tired Genre

Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable