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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable