🔗 Share this article

For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable