Review of The Relic (1997) by Jams G — 01 Feb 2011

Based upon the 1995 novel by Douglas J. Preston and Lincoln Child, and directed by Peter Hyams (Capricorn One, Outland). This is a special effects thriller, where it's difficult to make out what the creature killing everyone is until late on in the film.

The special effects are good but it's just like every other monster movie that's gone before it. The film has anthropologist John Whitney (Lewis Van Bergen) discovering a new tribe in South America, and sending artifacts back to the Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

When the ship arrives back on the Illinois River 6 weeks later, the crew are all discovered to be murdered. Meanwhile at the museum, Dr. Margo Green (Penelope Ann Miller, whatever happened to her??) and Dr.

Albert Frock (James Whitmore) look into the containers Whitney brought back, to discover leaves coated in a strange bacteria, used as packing for a stone statue. Then murders begin, homicide detective Vincent D'Agosta (Tom Sizemore) insists the museum be closed pending an investigation, but museum director Dr.

Ann Cuthbert (Linda Hunt) insists it stays open for a gala night. Big mistake. It's essentially Alien in a museum, a battle for survival by people in the museum. It has it's moments of suspense, and the creature effects done by Stan Winston are very effective, but it's the usual B Movie hokum done in Species.