When elderly mother Edna inexplicably vanishes, her daughter rushes to the family's decaying home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence.
When her estranged mother's house begins to exhibit a sinister presence, a daughter and granddaughter must confront a horrifying family secret that is slowly consuming the elder woman. As the haunting intensifies, the lines between the past and present blur, revealing a deep-seated fear of dementia and the loss of self. The film is a metaphorical exploration of aging, mental decline, and the suffocating nature of familial responsibility.
Relic was generally well-received by critics, who praised its atmospheric tension, strong performances, and its poignant exploration of themes like dementia and generational trauma. While some found the pacing a bit slow, the film's emotional resonance and effective scares were widely acknowledged.
Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated Relic for its chilling atmosphere and emotional depth, finding the film's portrayal of dementia to be both frightening and moving. The horror elements were effective, and the story resonated with viewers who have experienced similar family struggles.
Screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, receiving positive buzz.
Director Natalie Erika James was inspired to write the film after witnessing her own grandmother's struggle with dementia, stating that she wanted to externalize the internal experience of the disease.
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