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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining