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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable