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For the most part, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new 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 film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable