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For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable