Review: 'Relic' A Modern Horror Classic
Taking a nod from the mental health terror of "The Babadook," the creepy, intelligent "Relic" takes an immersive and unsettling dive into the horror of dementia.
Directed by Aussie Natalie Erika James, "Relic" tells the tale of three generations of women fighting to deal with the matriarch's decent into dementia, which seems to manifest into a physical presence that upsets all of their lives.
While the film is incredibly unnerving and oftentimes chilling, it is truly a psychological beast that might not satisfy all horror fans, but should please those with a taste for something that has intelligence behind its scares.
Oft-nominated Emily Mortimer plays Kay, who travels with her daughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) to the country to check in on Kay's mother, Edna (Robyn Nevin), who has been having health issues. After she's missing for a few days, Edna returns as if nothing has happened. But something has, and Edna starts to talk about a presence in the house that won't leave her alone.
Concerned, Kay wants to move her mother to a nursing home, while Sam — who doesn't particularly get along with her mother — thinks Edna should stay put and considers staying with her.
But Edna might not be so crazy after all. Something is indeed in the house, and it will cause mother and daughter to fear — and ultimately understand — the deterioration of their matriarch.
James' horror-drama is one of the best to grace the screen in a long time. Rather than hit audiences over the head with frequent jump scares and mythological explanations for the diabolical presence the family must face, it explores a real disease in a visual way that is both disturbing and striking. All the same, it is pretty scary.
James takes time with her characters without feeling the need to throw in a scare every ten minutes or so to keep general audience's happy. It challenges us to look deeper which expertly manages to keep us on our feet as we wonder where the film is going and what might happen next.
All three actresses excel here, with Mortimer proving her acting chops once again. I was surprised she was going the horror route this time around, but once you understand what the film is really about, it makes sense. This is a tough performance to pull off and she does it with great compassion.
Heathcote could have just played the grumpy, directionless daughter in a typical one-note way, but she adds layers to her performance that allows her and Mortimer to skillfully square off.
It's hard not to mention the tech aspects of this production which are incredible. From the sound design by Robert Mackenzie, to the production design by Steven Jones-Evans (wait until you see the hidden parts of the house) this is a perfectly crafted film that should become a classic in its own right.
"Relic" is dramatic, spine-chilling, and heartbreaking and that should excite horror fans everywhere who will hopefully turn this film into a classic, not its namesake.