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:

A mind is a terrible thing to waste... Especially if you're really hungry

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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

The film was originally set to open in August 1996 but special effects work delayed its release till the end of the year/early 1997.

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Goofs

During the autopsy scene, the ties on the medical examiner's mask change between going over the microphone headset and going underneath.

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Quotes

Margo Green: Using superstition to bring people to the museum is like hiring topless ushers for the Bolshoi Ballet.
Dr. Whitney Frock: Well if they did, I might go to the Ballet.

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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

This is a great film.

This is a great film. My cousin and I both love the film and the novel. Even though the novel is better, the movie holds its own. The story told by Prof. Frock about the headaches as well as the story about the lucky bullet are both hilarious. Even though I wish the character of Special Agent Pendergast or even Smithback would have been included, the movie is a credible representation of the film. The beast is frightening and the action sequences are good. One advantage the film has over the book is Penelope Ann Miller's beauty. She, along with the rest of the cast, does a fine job. My only problem is how the character of Greg is a one-dimensional scheming kiss-up instead of the conflicted character he is in the novel. Now if they would only make the sequel.