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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was 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 depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable