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For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was 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 all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining