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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable