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Relic

Name: Relic
Director: Natalie Erika James
Released: 2020
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

6.2/10

Good

2020

Director

Natalie Erika James

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Relic subverts horror clichés by centering the psychological and physical realities of neurodegenerative disease. While the film lacks broad demographic variety, it provides a deeply nuanced exploration of cognitive disability and the female experience. The film's strength lies in its refusal to treat dementia as a mere tool for pity. Instead, it uses the domestic space to explore the heavy emotional labor and real-life struggles of women navigating a family crisis. However, the film's narrow focus on a homogeneous domestic unit limits its reach in terms of diversity and inclusivity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Relic have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or stories involving non-straight relationships. It focuses on biological and emotional bonds within a traditional family structure.

How does Relic portray gender?

Good

The narrative is predominantly centered around women, highlighting intergenerational connections between grandmother, mother, and daughter. It emphasizes female intellect and the psychological strain of caregiving over patriarchal leadership.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Relic?

Limited

The cast remains fairly uniform, focusing on a specific domestic unit. While it avoids harmful stereotypes, the film does not include diverse ethnic representation.

How does Relic represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film presents a somber view of the domestic unit, avoiding idealized family clichés. It portrays caregiving as a grueling, visceral process that challenges sentimentalized views of elder care.

Does Relic include disability representation?

Excellent

The film excels in depicting dementia through body horror, making the grandmother's decline a central, transformative force rather than a mere plot device.

Present on Screen

Profound portrayal of dementia and cognitive disability through a unique cinematic lens.
Strong female-centric narrative that centers caregiving and female resilience over traditional patriarchal structures.
Avoids sentimentalized or idealized depictions of family, offering a visceral and realistic look at domestic decay.

Limited or Absent

Limited racial and ethnic diversity within the cast and character ensemble.
Lack of LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight narratives.
Narrow demographic scope that focuses on a single, homogeneous domestic unit.

Official Synopsis

When elderly mother Edna inexplicably vanishes, her daughter rushes to the family's decaying home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence.

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