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Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're 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 enjoyable