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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable