Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Relic’

Written by Scott Edwards 

Superstitions are a great way of explaining why things happen without even thinking about science or why they really happened. Step on a crack, break your mother’s back, that is one of my favorite ones from growing up and to this day, I avoid doing it at all costs. There are many cultures that believe in their superstitions and will not even think about any other reason as to why things happen. While science is based on fact and will never agree with what these cultures believe in, it does not matter to them, they have been around much longer and know what the truth is.

Doctor Margo Green is ready to find out about her grant that she has been fighting for upon coming to work at the Chicago Natural History Museum, but when her boss, Doctor Cuthbert, sees her, she receives some news. Finding out that her co-worker, Greg Lee has also applied for the same grant, Margo is beside herself and wants to make sure that he understands why. With her research hanging in the balance and the biggest gala in the Museum's history coming up, she will have to find a way to convince the investors to go with her. But things are changing in the museum very quickly as she is finding out and her research will always take a backseat to those who are bringing in the customers.

When seeing the boxes that just arrived from South America for another one of her colleagues, Margo is curious as to what could be inside. Sifting through the boxes, she finds the head of an ancient god, but that does not interest her as much as the box that only houses packing leaves. Seeing a fungus on them, Margo wants to identify what it could be and why it would have been shipped all the way to the museum with such haste. Little does she know what she will find and how it relates to a murder that has taken place in the museum overnight.

Lieutenant D’Agosta is working on the case since it bears resemblance to the murders he has been checking out that took place on a freighter. With the heads of the victims being removed, he knows that there has to be a connection and thinking that it might be drug related, he has to follow his gut. D’Agosta wants to ensure that he museum is safe for the employees and will allow the gala to take place at the Mayor’s request, but will have to shut everything down to protect the public. Finding and killing a violent homeless man in the sub-basement seems to be the answer to who the killer is, but as the police quickly find out, there is something a little more sinister running around the museum that cannot be stopped in the conventional manner. 
 
I really want to say that this is a great monster movie, but there is one problem with saying that, I don’t think the creatures are really monsters. Although the creature may not be human, or reptile, it just does not feel like the big scary monsters that we are used to. That does not take anything away from the movie at all, just a thought. I really liked how the storyline played out in this one since everyone is looking for the actual killer and are not willing to believe that it could be something from our nightmares. It all comes down to what science can explain, but as D’Agosta makes sure everyone knows, is that he has his superstitions about working a case and making the correct bust when the time is right. Although the movie does not have all of the blood I would have liked, the pacing is great and when you get to see someone taken by the beast, you get a shot into what it means to be killed by a creature that wants you for your mind. Stay Scared.

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