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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably 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 who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable