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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable