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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining