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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining