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Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion 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 movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining