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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up 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 result proves an engaging and enjoyable