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For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining