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For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent 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 nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable