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Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining