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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining