The streaming giant's Unexpected Latest Undead Movie Injects Fresh Air into a Overused Style

Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining