Review: In the atmospheric horror thriller 'Relic,' the menace becomes the metaphor for a real-life fear

It’s weird to use words like “touching” and “heartbreaking” to describe a body-horror thriller, but Natalia Erika James’ stunning directing debut “Relic” earns those adjectives by putting a literal spin on the figurative dismemberment of dementia.

When elderly Edna (Robyn Nevin) goes missing for three days, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and adult granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) drive up from Melbourne to join the search. Setting up in Edna’s home, cluttered with memories of Kay’s childhood, Kay and Sam wait for word of Edna’s whereabouts.

After a day or so, Edna suddenly reappears in the kitchen, not sure why her daughter and granddaughter are there. Sam gives her grandma a warm hug, but Kay is more reserved, sensing that something’s off about her mum. More volatile behavior — lucid and happy one moment, raving and angry the next — fuels Kay’s suspicions that the Edna who returned from her disappearance isn’t the same one who left.

As a thriller, “Relic” is a slow-burning fuse that produces a dread-soaked atmosphere before igniting into a terrifying climax that has Sam and Kay fighting for their lives. Not only are they dealing with what Edna has become, but they’re also facing the specter of the house, a dank, fetid place that seems to shape-shift around them.

The three actresses make a strong ensemble, but Nevin — a veteran in Australian TV and movies, who appeared in “The Matrix” sequels and Jane Campion’s miniseries “Top of the Lake” — dominates the screen. Nevin captures the fear and rage brought on by dementia, and infuses the film’s entire atmosphere with those emotions.

James, who wrote and directed, gives physical form to the metaphorical terrors of dementia, creating a visual metaphor for losing a loved one that’s both horrific and strangely beautiful. “Relic” is that rare horror movie where the scares aren’t just what’s on screen, but what they represent.

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‘Relic’

★★★1/2

Available for rental on most digital platforms on Friday, July 10; also opening at the Megaplex Valley Fair (West Valley City). Rated R for some horror violence/disturbing images, and language. Running time: 90 minutes.