An auspicious debut by a visionary young director, Natalie Erika James, RELIC is one of the creepiest, most emotionally resonant horror films I've seen since "Hereditary".
Emily Mortimer (Match Point) stars as Kay. When her mother Edna (in a powerful performance by Robyn Nevin of "The Matrix" trilogy) wonders off from the home where she lives alone, Kay and her daughter Sam rush to the matriarch's home to help find her.
Sam (Bella Heathcote of "In Time") and Kay look everywhere in the home but find no signs of Edna.
What they do discover is a decaying home with some insidious mold and post it notes in every corner that betray a mind slipping into dementia/Alzheimer's.
Suddenly, Edna returns.
With no memory of where she's been, Kay and Sam are baffled by what to do next.
Sam is the affectionate granddaughter, Kay the frustrated daughter and their approaches begin to conflict.
Meanwhile Edna begins to act......different. No spoliers here. Writer/Director James crafts a powerful story that will cut deep for anyone dealing with an aging parent suffering memory issues. It certainly did for me.
She and the filmmakers researched sounds that research has shown that dementia patients experience. They are disturbing and off putting, as is the realism of Kay's dreams.
Is James' story an allegory? A straight forward horror film? You decide for yourself. Either way its well told.
It's a great cast, with all three generations of women owning their roles and setting up a final 25 minutes of nearly unbearable tension.
Composer Brian Reitzell sneaks under your skin with an insidious music score lurking under the darkest corners of every room.
RELIC attempts something pretty amazing, manifesting the.....nope, that would be saying too much. How you interpret the final moments is up to you, but I know what my take is and I'm anxious to discuss with anyone else that sees this clever, smart horror thriller.
It gets a mold covered, skin peeling A.
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