Relic - horror drama, is a debut by writer-director Natalie Erika James. Prior to making this debut feature film, Natalie Erika James wrote and directed four short films from 2011 to 2018. She also worked as an assistant to Leigh Whannell when he made his movie Upgrade (2018).

Relic is a new horror drama that is intense and scary in several unexpected ways. Especially if you’ve ever had anyone with dementia in your life. Scenes might even feel too close for comfort at times, but it really isn’t without reason.

Also, yes, there is quite a lot of symbolism in Relic which makes it both more unforgettable and a lot deeper. However, I’ll go out on a limb here and say that you can also enjoy it as straight-up horror.

In fact, we’ll get into classic body-horror elements at various points throughout the story. The main cast of Relic consists of just three actors, who deliver some truly stellar performances. They portray three generations of women in a family.

We have the grandmother, Edna, who is portrayed brutally and direct by Robyn Nevin. You might know Robin Nevin from season one of Top of the Lake (2013). Also, she was Councillor Dillard in the two final movies of The Matrix trilogy.

In the middle – in every way – is Emily Mortimer (Spectral) as Kay. The woman who is both daughter and mother. Kay has to do right by both women in her life and it seems almost impossible, so she has to power through and do what’s right. No matter the cost to herself.


The youngest member of the family is Sam, who is both daughter and granddaughter. She’s portrayed by Bella Heathcote (Pride, Prejudice and Zombies) who manages to walk a tightrope for a long time. On one hand, Sam adores her grandmother and won’t see what her own mother is trying to deal with; The fact that Edna is battling with dementia.

Relic is out in theaters and on-demand from July 10, 2020.

Details
In Theaters: July 10, 2020 (USA)
On VOD: July 10, 2020 (USA)
Director: Natalie Erika James
Writer: Natalie Erika James, Christian White
Cast: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote

Plot
When elderly mother Edna (Robyn Nevin) inexplicably vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) rush to their family’s decaying country home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence. After Edna returns just as mysteriously as she disappeared, Kay’s concern that her mother seems unwilling or unable to say where she’s been clashes with Sam’s unabashed enthusiasm to have her grandma back. As Edna’s behavior turns increasingly volatile, both begin to sense that an insidious presence in the house might be taking control of her.