The Relic (1997)

A homicide detective and an anthropologist try to destroy a South American lizard-like god, who's on a people eating rampage in a Chicago museum.

Director:

Peter Hyams

Writers:

Douglas Preston (novel), Lincoln Child (novel),

Stars:

Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore, Linda Hunt

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Chi Muoi Lo	...	Dr. Greg Lee
Thomas Ryan	...	Tom Parkinson
Robert Lesser	...	Mayor Robert Owen
Diane Robin	...	The Mayor's Wife
Lewis Van Bergen	...	John Whitney
Constance Towers	...	Mrs. Blaisedale
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Mr. Blaisedale
Audra Lindley	...	Dr. Zwiezic
John Kapelos	...	McNally
Tico Wells	...	Bailey

Storyline

A researcher at Chicago's Natural History Museum returns from South America with some crates containing his findings. When the crates arrive at the museum without the owner there appears to be very little inside. However, police discover gruesome murders on the cargo ship that brought the crates to the US and then another murder in the museum itself. Investigating the murders is Lt. Vincent D'Agosta who enlists the help of Dr. Margo Green at the museum - she has taken an interest in the contents of her colleague's crates. Unknown to both there is a large creature roaming the museum which is gearing itself up for a benefit reception which the city's mayor is to attend.

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Plot Keywords:

museum | crate | ship | mayor | benefit | 

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Taglines:

The Next Evolution In Terror.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for monster violence and gore, and for language

Details

Country:

USA UK Germany Japan New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Relic

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 1,954,921,000 (Italy) (2 May 1997)

Gross:

ITL 3,016,379,000 (Italy) (6 June 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Marubeni, Mutual Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Seltzer's name was attached to the initial promos for the movie. For an unknown reason, it had been removed by the time the film went into general release.

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Goofs

The tank into which Margo falls only contains hot water, used to loosen skin from a carcass. At the time she enters this tank, it is switched off and the water is cold.

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Quotes

Dr. Zwiezic: Something's wrong... This brain is light - even for a man.

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Connections

References Alien (1979)

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Soundtracks

"SUNRISE"
STRING QUARTET IN B FLAT MAJOR
by F.J. Haydn
Performed by Kodaly Quartet
Courtesy of Naxos of America
By Arrangement with Source/Q

User Reviews

Not bad for its type

I am not a big fan of these types of movies, but I have to say I was reasonably entertained for the most part(Admittedly, I watched this on TV, which could increase my tolerance level, but then again I saw JADE on TV as well). It sets things up nicely before the chase, it doesn't throw in a romantic angle just for the sake of throwing it in, the two leads, Penelope Ann Miller(remember when she was in big movies?) and Tom Sizemore, are both good, and once the chase starts, it's gripping. Admittedly, there are some flaws; having read the novel first, I knew how the creature came to be, which robbed some suspense(and while I appreciate that they had to take a shortcut to explain things, this was a little TOO short), while the photography needed to be dark, it was too dark at times, and Miller's colleague Greg(I forget the actor's name) veered uncomfortably close to stereotype. Still, this was an entertaining time-waster.