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For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment 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 the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable