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Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable