A manifestation of dementia wreaks havoc on three generations of women in “Relic,” Natalie Erika James’ terrifying and touching feature debut. Inspired by her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, the psychological horror story sees Edna’s (Robyn Nevin) daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) travel to their remote family home when their matriarch goes missing.
Edna eventually turns up, but she offers no explanation about where she’s been, and becomes defensive when quizzed about her mysterious disappearance. She’s not talking — but the state of her home says plenty. Post-it notes, some practical reminders (“Turn off the tap”), others ominous warnings (“Do not follow it”), litter the house, which is in disarray and covered in mold. Disturbed by how quickly and dramatically her mother’s mind and home have begun to deteriorate, Kay becomes convinced that she’s unfit to live alone and should move into an assisted living facility, a decision that rankles Sam. Edna changed Kay’s “nappies,” and now it’s time for Kay to change Edna’s, or so Sam believes.
James is confident enough to show us family dynamics hinting at a dysfunctional past without offering unnecessary exposition. We aren’t privy to the origins of the lingering drama and trauma, but it’s right there on the screen. These women share a complicated history, and that history plays a role in how Kay and Sam respond to Edna’s collapse.
“Relic” isn’t just for horror fans, and in fact, the pic contains little gore and few jump scares. It’s dread that permeates throughout, and the boogeyman under the bed is Alzheimer’s. The haunted house at the center of the film, which is increasingly difficult to navigate as the story evolves, stands in for the maze Edna’s mind has become.
“I think having to confront your parents’ mortality – and your own by extension – is such a scary but universal concept. There’s a specific tortuous quality to Alzheimer’s and watching someone decline in its clutches,” James told us. “If there’s one person in the audience who watches the film and it resonates with them on a level that helps them process a feeling or an experience with the disease, or see their loved ones in a new light, I’ll feel like I’ve achieved what I set out to do.”
“Relic” is now in theaters and available On Demand and via digital rental.
