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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining