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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining