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Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining