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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion 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 end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining