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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly 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!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining