The Relic was Shrouded in Secrecy
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Details of The Relic were kept under wraps prior to the 1997 release so that the monster would be a big shock to horror fans. In spite of the wait I was not disappointed.
Written by The B-Movie Specialist Ronnie Angel
October 17, 2007
Release: 1997
Directed by: Peter Hyams
Written by: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (novel), Amy Jones, John Raffo, Rick
Jaffa and Amanda Silver (screenplay)
Starring:
Penelope Ann Miller as Dr. Margo Green
Tom Sizemore as Lt. Vincent D'Agosta
Linda Hunt as Dr. Ann Cuthbert
James Whitmore as Dr. Albert Frock
Clayton Rohner as Det. Hollingsworth
One of my favorite things to see in a movie, not just in a horror movie but any movie, is a setting or location that is familiar to me. I like to see places that I have been myself so I can point out landmarks and such to friends, like a jackass. Out of all the places I have visited where movies have been filmed, one stands out as one of my top places to visit. The place is The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago Illinois, the site where the majority of the monster movie The Relic was filmed.
Ironically, The Field Museum is also the real home of the infamous Man Eating Lions of Tsavo (from The Ghost and The Darkness). If you have the chance to visit the museum yourself then you will see that, even though the place is packed and crowded, there are still hidden places that are dark and isolated. In these places you feel alone while surrounded by strange artifacts and Egyptian Tombs. You really couldn’t ask for a better setting for a horror movie, and nearly all of The Relic is shot from within the darkness to enhance the isolation effect.
The Relic has a story that really stands out amongst the bland
era of mid 90's horror. It surrounds the Field Museum and the problems
that begin when a giant monster called Kathoga slaughters the crew of
the ship transporting him while in the harbor en route to
the tunnels of Chicago and to the museum. The monster then gruesomely
slaughters a security guard.
After a massive police search turns up a crazed bum with an axe beneath the museum, most police opt to call the case closed. Detective D'Agosta (Tom Sizemore), however, rightfully believes there is something more to the story and enlists the aid of Dr Margo Green (Penelope Ann Miller) of the museum to help find answers.
Adding to the mystery for Dr. Green, the ship contained mysterious crates belonging to one her colleagues, containing findings from an expedition in South America - but her colleague has turned up mysteriously missing.
While all this is going on, the museum is gearing up for a huge benefit
reception and opening of a new Halloween exhibit, which will be
attended by the mayor as well as many other upper class types. D'Agosta
tries to convince the city that it is a bad idea to allow the reception
to happen as something may be running around the museum on the loose.
Once the monster Kathoga finally makes himself known to the people at the museum, it's too late. People get trapped inside the museum with the monster by the automatic security system and mayhem ensues. Now it's up to D'Agosta and Green to not only stop the beast, but figure out what the hell it is and how it is connected to the missing colleague.
When The Relic was released it was a breath of fresh air in what was a very, very crappy time for Horror Movies in the mid 90's. It took a long time for The Relic to be officially released due to problems with filming and the monster itself, which was kept under wraps for a long time.
Really despite the wait, I was not disappointed and still count this as one of my all time favorites. The setting and suspense are amazing. The effects are very good, even gruesome at times, and just all around, The Relic is a good movie to watch. Just don't try comparing it to the book. Questions or comments about The Relic? Contact us!
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