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Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable