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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for 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. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining