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For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable