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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining