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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains 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.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable