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For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining