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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable