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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable