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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, 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 over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable