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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining