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For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining