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For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic 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. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. 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 proves a captivating and entertaining