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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when 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 perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable