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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining