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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused 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. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion 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 cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable