Relic – An Indie Horror Film That Is Bound To Polarize

As were the many who eagerly anticipated the film, I was very much looking forward to loving Relic. The general reception among those who saw it at this year’s Sundance film festival seemed to be positive while the majority of its praise came from its originality and vision. Seven months later, with the film mostly being viewed on televisions instead of in a theatre with a packed and engaged audience, it’s hard to see audiences feeling the same. Though it’s very bold, whether or not these bold decisions pay off will be decided by audiences – – but there’s no way they will struggle to find something to admire here.

When it comes to Relic, there’s quite a few things here that are near objectively charming for which a lot of it comes from its craft. Firstly, the atmosphere is so, SO chilling – and without a doubt, audiences will find themselves sucked into this unique vision from the beginning. Although it’s hard to say if this feeling is sustained throughout the film, it’s still something that is sure to stand out especially during its initial moments. The various elements that comes together to create this atmosphere make for quite a chilling environment – from the score, to the incredibly dark color palette, to the unsettling nature of the house itself are all quite impressive and worthy of admiration. Meanwhile, its performances are quite good. Mortimer and Heathcote specifically, as mother and daughter Kay and Sam respectively, do bring a sense of engagement to the story while their bond, as well as their evident love for each other and Edna (Nivens), the matriarch of the family, truly do benefit the story.

While roughly the first half of Relic is quite engaging to watch, as the film edges closer to its climax, some of its creative choices are likely to cause some controversy amongst audiences. First off, the film did not provide enough build up to its grand ending thus lessening its intended payoff. It’s somewhat abrupt ending and the journey to get to that point didn’t quite compare, feeling separate from one another. The issues the film attempts to tackle feel too graphic, somewhat reducing its potential overall emotional payoff. However, the biggest issue with the film was that it didn’t feel nearly scary or emotional enough to be as satisfying as for the many viewers who have or are falling in love with it. While the journey of its characters over the course of the film takes a unique approach, whether or not its unorthodox ending has the emotional payoff will surely vary amongst viewers.

In the end, Relic is one of those films that is simply hard not to admire. James has assembled a story in such a unique way and the way it all pieces together certainly showcase a true vision though neither the works it pays homage to nor its themes of illness and grief will work for everyone. The film is certainly an easy one to recommend – but it will be a gamble of a viewing for sure.

still courtesy of IFC Films

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