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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining