Relic (2020 film)

Relic

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2020
Founder	Natalie Erika James, Christian White (writers)
Key people	Natalie Erika James (director, co-writer), Christian White (co-writer), Jake Gyllenhaal (producer), Riva Marker (producer), Anthony Russo (executive producer), Joe Russo (executive producer)
Products	Psychological horror film

Relic is a psychological horror movie released in 2020, directed by Natalie Erika James and co-written by James alongside Christian White. The film stars Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, and Bella Heathcote.

Making its debut at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020, the movie was later distributed in the United States on July 3 through IFC Midnight, followed by its Australian release on July 10 via Stan. It accumulated a global box office total of $3.2 million.

Plot

When Edna, an elderly widow suffering from dementia, disappears, her daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam journey to their isolated family residence to locate her. Upon arrival, they find the house locked from inside and notice a peculiar black mould-like growth spreading on an upper wall. Numerous pieces of furniture are adorned with Post-it notes intended to help Edna remember everyday tasks.

That evening, their young neighbor Jamie visits Sam, explaining that he has not been to see Edna recently because his father warned him against it. Both Sam and Kay become unsettled by loud creaking noises emanating from within the walls and the encroaching black mould. Kay starts experiencing disturbing dreams involving a decayed corpse inside a forest shack.

The next day, Edna returns barefoot and covered in mud, unaware she had been missing. A medical professional assesses her mental state as largely intact but notes a significant black bruise on her chest resembling the mould’s appearance. Concerned about Edna’s self-neglect, Kay decides to arrange for her placement in a retirement facility. That night, Edna sleepwalks toward the door murmuring, "It's nothing," and insists something lurks beneath the bed; Kay briefly glimpses something breathing but is distracted before seeing clearly.

The following day, Edna suddenly accuses Sam of stealing a ring she had previously given her, forcibly removing it from Sam’s finger. After another aggressive incident, Sam questions Jamie’s father about why Jamie stopped visiting. Alex explains that during a recent visit, Edna accidentally trapped Jamie in a hiding spot for several hours while playing hide-and-seek. Back at the house, Kay discovers Edna tearing pages from the family photo album and eating them; when Kay intervenes, Edna bites her and attempts to bury the album, claiming it will be safer hidden away. Despite fears for her safety, Kay convinces Edna to accept her care.

Sam uncovers a concealed passage within the house but becomes disoriented as the corridor loops endlessly. Meanwhile, Edna’s condition deteriorates; she regards Kay with suspicion, refuses food, urinates with black-stained fluid, and scratches at the festering wound on her chest. A flooded bathtub causes a power failure. Sam ventures further into the passageways, crawling under low ceilings before breaking through walls coated with mould to escape.

Kay finds Edna carving at her decaying face with a knife. As Edna pursues them in a grotesquely altered state, Kay and Sam flee into the hidden passageway. They break through a wall into the lounge where Kay repels Edna’s advance; the decaying figure then points toward a post-it note labeled "I AM LOVED?" and smiles faintly. After escaping the house, Kay observes that the walls have ceased rotting and returns to assist her corpse-like mother into bed. She carefully removes remaining flesh to reveal Edna’s final form as a shriveled corpse matching Kay’s nightmare vision. The two lie together until Edna peacefully drifts off to sleep.

The story concludes with Sam noticing a small black bruise appearing on the back of Kay’s neck.

Cast

• Emily Mortimer portrays Kay
• Robyn Nevin appears as Edna
• Bella Heathcote takes on the role of Sam
• Chris Bunton plays Jamie
• Jeremy Stanford features as Alex
• Steve Rodgers acts as Constable Mike Adler

Production

In October 2018, the film's cast expanded with the addition of Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, and Bella Heathcote. The project was helmed by director Natalie Erika James, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Christian White. Production was overseen by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker, while executive producing duties were handled by Anthony and Joe Russo through their companies Nine Stories Productions and AGBO.

Principal photography commenced on 8 October and concluded on 16 November, encompassing a 30-day filming schedule. The post-production phase began shortly after, on 26 November.

Release

Relic had its debut screening at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival on 25 January 2020. It was slated to be shown in March at SXSW within the Midnighters category; however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 10 March, distribution rights for North America were secured by IFC Midnight. The film became available in the United States on 3 July through drive-in theatre venues, followed by a broader theatrical release and availability via video on demand starting 10 July.

Box office

During its opening weekend, Relic earned $192,352 across 69 theaters, securing the top spot among reported releases. In its second weekend, it garnered $195,674 from 128 venues.

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating based on multiple critiques, with an average rating reflecting positive consensus. The critical summary highlights that Relic builds tension gradually within a masterfully crafted atmosphere of unease, marking a noteworthy directorial debut for Natalie Erika James. Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it has achieved a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 37 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews."

Critic Justin Chang, speaking on Fresh Air, observed: "Relic avoids sudden twists or excessive gore. Instead, James skillfully extracts suspense and dread from everyday dialogue, employing thriller elements to depict the horror of witnessing a parent's gradual decline."

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	References
Australian Writers' Guild	22 August 2019	Feature Film – Original	Christian White and Natalie Erika James	Template:Nom
AACTA Awards	30 November 2020	Best Film	Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw	Template:Nom
		Best Direction	Natalie Erika James	Template:Nom
		Best Screenplay	Christian White and Natalie Erika James	Template:Nom
		Best Supporting Actress	Bella Heathcote	Template:Nom
		Best Sound	Robert Mackenzie, John Wilkinson, Steve Burgess, and Glenn Newnham	Template:Nom
		Best Hair and Makeup	Angela Conte, Larry Van Duynhoven, and Bec Taylor	Template:Nom
IndieWire Critics Poll	14 December 2020	Best First Feature	Relic	Template:Runner-up
Florida Film Critics Circle	21 December 2020	Best First Film		Template:Nom
Critics' Choice Super Awards	10 January 2021	Best Horror Movie		Template:Nom
Gotham Awards	11 January 2021	Best Feature		Template:Nom
		Audience Award		Template:Nom