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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable