I initially caught Relic as part of Frightfest’s online Halloween event in 2020 and it quickly secured its place in my top ten for the year. The Australian feature is the directional debut of Natalie Erika James, but the passionate and intimately personal piece feels like the work of a seasoned pro.
Following three generations of women as they navigate the declining health of the elderly matriarch, Relic takes a poignant look at the effects of dementia on a family dynamic and the associated guilt and frustration of caring for a loved one.
Concerned daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) travel to Edna’s (Robyn Nevin) home to check in, after a few weeks without contact. Guiltily admitting that life has got in the way, Kay fears the worst.
The women find Edna’s house in chaotic disarray. Sticky notes are tacked allover, serving as prompts for Edna’s failing memory, and the fruit bowl attracts flies in its state of decay that mirrors Edna’s own health. To the relief of Kay and Sam, Edna reappears – however it is clear she has deteriorated since their last visit. Speaking to people that aren’t there, Edna’s mood changes suddenly and her paranoia leads to angry outbursts. The symptoms are typical of dementia but as Edna’s behaviour grows increasingly irrational, the audience begins to wonder if there is something malevolent at play.
Relic’s evocative imagery and use of metaphor adds a touchingly emotional element to the feature. As Kay and Sam find themselves lost in what should be familiar surroundings, the inspired symbolism emphasises the lonely dread and confusion of dementia.
Mortimer, Heathcote and Kevin deliver powerful performances that make the horror feel terrifyingly grounded in reality. Beyond the strong female cast, Relic champions diversity and representation with the casting of Olympic athlete Chris Bunton who has downs syndrome as neighbour Jamie.
The elaborate glass window that takes pride of place on the front door of the home acts as subtle nod to generational inheritance, a theme which is explored as the films draws to its conclusion. Though employing some gruesome body horror and FX, I found myself a little misty eyed as Kay peels back the sickness from her mother to find her still there within.
Finally free of the decay, Sam embraces her mother before noticing the similar black steadily creeping across her skin – the realisation of the inevitable hereditary nature of the illness that will in time, come for her too.
Relic has some genuine chilling moments, with its emotional undercurrent standing to add intensity to the haunting scenes. It handles the topic of illness sensitively whilst managing to create something impactful and truly unsettling. You can see James’ passion throughout, which has really helped to bring the feature to life as something created from a very personal and loving place.
