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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable