The Relic

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The Relic

R

1997

1h 50m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

34%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A homicide detective (Tom Sizemore) helps a biologist (Penelope Ann Miller) hunt a giant creature that is killing people in a Chicago museum.

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Critics Consensus

Fleeting moments of brainless monster mayhem aside, The Relic proves to be too predictably derivative for its own good.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

A surprisingly entertaining "monster-on-the-loose" picture set mostly in halls and private passageways of Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 10, 2017

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Though based on an original and respected novel, Hyams' horror thriller comes across as a pastiche of the genre's conventions as evident in major pictures of the past two decades, such as Jaws and the first two Alien films.

Rated: C

Dec 23, 2006

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Susan Wloszczyna

USA Today

Gore seekers need only to know the body count is high and the scares are cheap as director Peter Hyams shares his beast's repellent disregard for human life.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

So it pains me to confess that, aside from the spectacularly ugly Kothoga (a creation of monster-making genius Stan Winston), the movie isn’t much good.

Rated: C-

Sep 1, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...a deeply silly and perfectly enjoyable no-brainer...

Rated: 3/5

Jun 27, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Features the best ingredients of contemporary monster movie formulas: loud noises, dark places, isolated characters, sudden images of bloody body parts, and red herrings.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 24, 2020

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Gretchen B

The book was amazing. This? Not so much. The dialog was terrible. The acting was horrible. Practically the whole movie was filmed in the dark. Even the labs were dimly lit. I mean it was ridiculous.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/25

Full Review

Morbeus f

Well people in general including the critics have been overly critical about this movie in terms of it as a horror movie. Sure it's a little bit slow starting but that's part of the mystery while it builds to a climax and then explodes. The irony of it is that part of the creature is human from the genetic analysis of the creatures genome. Not surprising at all when you consider that we're probably the biggest monsters on the planet anyways. It's definitely worth a viewing despite the hyperbole of the critics. At least Rex Reed seems to agree as well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/19/24

Full Review

Yash B

I thought "The Relic" was really boring at first. The setup of this movie was not engaging at all. I will say when the chaos starts to really ensue, there is some fun to be had. I don't think it is anything beyond a B-movie, but there are moments that are enjoyable. Unfortunately, I can also think of many other similar monster movies that are much better, and even some that came out near the release of this one. Overall, I think there are some fun chaotic sequences, but the core story and setup just didn't give me much to latch onto and feel engaged.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

The monster's appearance looks like a rip off from the predator.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Andy S

Really well done rendition of the book, with a lot of liberties taken that I didn’t mind at all, actually. Kinda Cut some of the fat that’s present (and very enjoyable) in a novel, and condensed the storyline into a format that fits an excellent late-90’s B-Horror flick. JAWS! but edging towards the complexity of say, Alien. Bravo!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/24

Full Review

The Mango M

And I'm still not sure what the heck it's about.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

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Peter Hyams

Director

Penelope Ann Miller

Dr. Margo Green

Tom Sizemore

Lt. Vincent D'Agosta

Linda Hunt

Dr. Ann Cuthbert

James Whitmore

Dr. Albert Frock

Clayton Rohner

Det. Hollingsworth

The Relic: Official Clip - Torching the Creature

2:10

The Relic: Official Clip - The Rescue Team

2:05

The Relic: Official Clip - The Creature Attacks

1:45

The Relic: Official Clip - Lucky Bullet

1:29

The Relic: Official Clip - A Very Dangerous Situation

2:02

The Relic: Official Clip - Encounter at the Door

2:08

The Relic: Official Clip - The Callisto Effect

2:12

The Relic: Official Clip - Something's Missing from the Brain

2:10

The Relic: Official Clip - Bathroom Break

1:04

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Synopsis

A homicide detective (Tom Sizemore) helps a biologist (Penelope Ann Miller) hunt a giant creature that is killing people in a Chicago museum.

Director: Peter Hyams
Producer: Sam Mercer, Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: Amy Holden Jones, John Raffo, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Production Co: BBC
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.0M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

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