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Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord 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 I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable