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Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth

Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining