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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable