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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining