The Relic (1997)

★★★
The Relic is so much fun that it's easy to forgive its shortcomings, and there are plenty. This is a gory monster movie that takes place in a vast building with corridors that are perfect for a mutated beast to roam free and attack unsuspecting prey. If this sounds pretty routine, well, it is, but Peter Hyams directs the film like a well-oiled machine. There are occasional surprises to go along with the formulaic elements.

Tom Sizemore, usually a supporting actor, plays the lead role of LT D'Agosta, a no-nonsense Chicago cop investigating a ship that has just pulled into the harbor without a crew. After an extensive search, he finds the bodies floating in a compartment, torn to pieces. In a museum across the city, Dr. Green (Penelope Ann Miller) receives a shipment from a colleague in Brazil. One box contains a relic, while the other is empty except for some leaves. As we saw in the film's prologue, there is a connection between the boxes and the ship.

After the death of a museum security guard, LT D'Agosta investigates and recommends that the museum be closed until further notice. The head of the museum, Dr. Cuthbert (Linda Hunt), says that isn't a good idea, because an important exhibition is about to take place with all sorts of rich types, including the mayor, coming for a visit. LT D'Agosta shows more sense but caves in to the demands of the mayor, who says the exhibition will go on as scheduled.

The victims on the boat and the security guard have one thing in common. Their heads were twisted off and the hypothalamus was removed. Later that night, the action begins, and the monster makes its appearance, with screaming socialites running scared. Cops search the sewers and deduce that the monster took the sewers from Lake Michigan to the museum. Dr. Green also figures out that a fungus on the leaves contains the same chemical components found in the hypothalamus region, and the monster is killing off people to get its nourishment. Where the monster came from I leave for you to find out.

I would have enjoyed the movie more if additional time had been invested in the script. The relic that came with the shipment has nothing to do with the movie as near as I can tell. We see it being restored throughout the film, but once we learn where the monster came from and why it kills, the relic is meaningless. Also, I seriously doubt a mayor would want to continue with the exhibition after a murder just took place in the museum. This is a clear reference to the mayor of Amity Island in Jaws and his decision to keep the beach open, but at least there a shark (not the shark) was captured, so his complacency was believable.

Despite these minor inconsistencies, I liked The Relic. It's exciting, humorous and most importantly, unafraid to be gory. I suspect Peter Hyams thought back to the days when horror movies featured more bloody violence and made The Relic in the same vein. As is usually the case with Hyams's films, he shot using available light sources, which is appropriate. There are many hallways in this museum, and additional light sources would have diminished the eerie effect that is achievable by simply using available light. The creepy atmosphere, fast-paced action, exceptional special effects and strong lead performance by Sizemore all help The Relic become a solid and entertaining movie.

© 2004 Silver Screen Reviews