Following it’s initial arrival in limited theaters on July 3rd, IFC Midnights released Natalie Erika James’ ‘Relic‘ on VOD platforms on July 10th, and I had the opportunity to check it out.
According to the official synopsis: “When Edna (Robin Nevyn), the elderly and widowed matriarch of the family, goes missing, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) travel to their remote family home to find her. Soon after her return, they start to discover a sinister presence haunting the house and taking control of Edna.”
The film also marks the directorial debut of James, who was set on creating something profound with her first film.
Though the film’s pace can be rather plodding, and while it lacks any true scares, the creepy tone throughout does enough to cast this film in the right light.
While there are plenty of scenes where a dark figure is seen lurking somewhere, it becomes more of a game of “Where’s Waldo” as opposed to anything that would invoke fear.
However, despite all of this the film manages to keep you enthralled in the journey of Kay (Mortimer) as she copes with the deteriorating health of her mother Edna (Nevyn) whose dementia continues to worsen as the film plays out.
As Edna’s health dips, both Kay and her daughter Sam (Heathcote) seem to clash at how her future should be handed. There is a clear disconnect between the two, from a relationship perspective, that is never really addressed but is obvious.
At the risk of spoiling the movie for anyone, it wouldn’t be fair to write this review without telling you, the reader, that this movie is one that you need to sit with for a bit after watching it, as it is more symbolic than direct with it’s intent.
If you can look past the facade of it being a horror flick, which doesn’t make it a bad film, you’ll see the deeper message delivered by James.
In that light, the movie is indeed a powerful work that leaves you not only thinking about the intricacies of the story, but feeling the emotions that movie abruptly leaves you with, and the totality of it’s ending-scene message.
Some may see that ending as weird, odd, and completely detached, but it was something I was able to make more sense of several minutes after the credit rolls.
While ‘Relic’ won’t leave you with nightmares, or jump scare you out of your seat, it’s a movie that should be celebrated at it’s rather unique approach at telling a different story, through the appearance of a horror film, and without telling you directly what that meaning is.
Kudos to the actors who delivered incredible performances, and for James on a solid directorial debut that will leave many wanting more!
