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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when 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 over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining