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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "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 loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining