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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable