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For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable