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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining