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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable