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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close 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 building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable