Movie Breakdown: Relic

Pre-Screening Stance:

Relic looks like a good horror film all on its own, but the fact that it was produced by Nine Stories Productions (Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker) and AGBO (Anthony Russo and Joe Russo) makes me even more interested in it. Those are some big names.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Similar to The Babadook, The Witch and so on, Relic constantly bends and twists your perception of what is really going on. It begins with the disappearance of an old woman named Edna (Robyn Nevin). Her daughter, Kay (Emily Mortimer), and her granddaughter, Sam (Bella Heathcote), arrive to try and figure out where she may have gone, but before their search really gets going, Edna shows backs up. Despite the overt weirdness of the situation, things quickly return to what is status quo for the three women – Edna, who needs a lot of care and attention, is a burden to the overworked Kay, and Sam is too naive and disconnected to really help either of them. Frustrations get expressed, creepy things happen all over the place and – ultimately – a big helping of pure sadness gets served up for everyone.

Relic is a tough movie, one that slams you with a harsh life reminder while also making sure you feel paranoid about what may be under your bed, in your closet and/or in the deep recesses of your home. Fortunately though, its unsettling and uncomfortable approach makes for a worthwhile experience – this is a smart, scary, well made film, and I highly recommend that you seek it out.

By the way, if you’ve got the time, I advise that you pair the not-so-easy Relic with the rather accessible Wretched (another 2020 release) for a night of quality horror.

One Last Thought:

I’m not claustrophobic, but there’s a scene in this movie where the walls literally start to close in on someone and it totally wigged me out.