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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning 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 forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable