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For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable