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For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable