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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining