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For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion 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 movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining