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Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining