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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord 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 all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable