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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining