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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining