🔗 Share this article

Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable