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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable