Movie spotlight
Relic 0
The first film in the series, 'Relic 0' forms part of Larry Achiampong's Relic Traveller: Phase 1, a multi-disciplinary project manifesting in performance, audio, moving image and prose. Taking place across various landscapes and locations, the project builds upon a postcolonial perspective informed by technology, agency and the body, and narratives of migration. Relic 0, which is the prelude to the series, is a short film that moves between African and Western based vistas and focuses on specific architectures of colonialism as delivered by an anonymous narrator. These discoveries deliver poetic moments of the sublime met with increasingly harrowing tales of trauma - speaking to the sinister way that states of anxiety, fear and displacement are both generated and policed in postcolonial society. The throb of the electronic score and ringing clarity of the narrator's testimony usher in a new landscape and temporality, born from cracks in a traumatised, apocalyptic present.
Insights
Plot Summary
When her estranged mother's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Sam returns to her family home, only to find a sinister presence that seems to be draining the life out of her. As the entity's hold grows, both Sam and her mother must confront a horrifying truth that lies deep within the decaying house.
Critical Reception
Relic was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric tension, emotional depth, and effective blend of psychological and supernatural horror. The film was particularly lauded for its sensitive portrayal of dementia and its exploration of the generational trauma associated with aging and caregiving.
What Reviewers Say
A deeply unsettling and emotionally resonant horror film that uses a haunted house setting to explore themes of aging and dementia.
Praised for its strong performances, particularly from the lead actresses, and its masterful build-up of dread.
The film successfully blends psychological terror with supernatural elements, creating a unique and impactful viewing experience.
Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's powerful emotional core and its unique approach to horror, finding it both scary and moving. Many viewers connected with the film's exploration of family dynamics and the anxieties surrounding aging parents, though some found the narrative a bit slow in parts.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for several awards, including Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Director at the Sitges Film Festival.
Fun Fact
Director Natalie Erika James drew inspiration for the film from her own grandmother's experience with dementia, aiming to capture the unsettling and disorienting nature of the disease.
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