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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves 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 ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable