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For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out 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, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining