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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining