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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable