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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable