Relic

IFC Midnight | Release Date (Streaming): July 10, 2020

6.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 81 Ratings

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GodOneJul 13, 2020

Good actors, terrible screenplay without any sense. Slow and the end is just inserted without any reason just to make some obscure metaphors. Don't call this horror please, it's a scam.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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JLuis_001Jul 25, 2020

A haunted house film that benefits much more from the atmosphere than from the tension it manages to conjure.
Certainly, those who expect a horror story riddled with cheap jump scares will be greatly disappointed.
Like many recent films ofA haunted house film that benefits much more from the atmosphere than from the tension it manages to conjure.
Certainly, those who expect a horror story riddled with cheap jump scares will be greatly disappointed.

Like many recent films of the genre that have chosen to be deeper than many of the cheap productions that we see from studios like Blumhouse.
For what it matters, Relic is a story about deeply buried memories of past trauma.

Being a story about a ''haunted house'', the metaphor and the whole core of the matter lies in the fact that that home is a reflection of the mind state of its inhabitant and I say inhabitant because despite the fact that the three main characters are intertwined by blood. It's just one that is mentally drifting away.
And when that mind begins to collapse, the house begins to do the same.

This is a good slow-burner and to be honest while the supernatural element is present and is clearly an important part of the narrative, the essence of this story is more an allegory of a psychological breakdown and family issues.
Something that has been explored in recent and more successful films like Hereditary.

So I warn viewers because that tone and ambiguity are crucial for how this film works.

For my part I can only say that if you're into this kind of horror films, go for it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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SladeykajeJul 10, 2020

An imposing first feature from Natalie Erika James.

This one takes the haunted house premise and grounds it in something far more psychologically potent. James' direction is executed with precision, as she takes her time to linger onAn imposing first feature from Natalie Erika James.

This one takes the haunted house premise and grounds it in something far more psychologically potent. James' direction is executed with precision, as she takes her time to linger on particular moments and faces and corners, something essential for a good horror film. In fact, all of the technical aspects from the impressive acting display from the three leads to the cinematography which captures the sombre atmosphere delightfully provided a steady foundation for the film to thrive. The overall sense of hopelessness and dread throughout the film, especially the incredibly eerie last moments of the film moved me deeply. That being said, it's the slow-burn first half and a bizarre third act that might turn off some viewers, which occasionally left me scratching my head. It really made my bones itch - which is a new sensation for me.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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GiugiOct 5, 2022

This film is very strange because it manages to create an atmosphere of increasing tension by being scary and very deep at the same time, but in the end it is too fragmented, you don't understand much and the ending that wants to be deep andThis film is very strange because it manages to create an atmosphere of increasing tension by being scary and very deep at the same time, but in the end it is too fragmented, you don't understand much and the ending that wants to be deep and beautiful doesn't really have too much sense.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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