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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely 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 horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining