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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining