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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining