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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable