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For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know 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 flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable