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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining