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Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining