The Relic

A claustrophobic creature feature that blends ’90s practical effects with a moody museum setting and a dash of pulpy sci-fi.

• Peter Hyams’s dual role as director and DP gives the film a slick, shadow-heavy aesthetic that amplifies the lurking terror.
• The creature design leans on practical effects and animatronics, delivering a tactile menace that still holds up decades later.
• Tom Sizemore’s gruff detective paired with Penelope Ann Miller’s evolutionary biologist anchors the film’s blend of procedural and monster hunt.
• For fans of ’90s genre hybrids—where science meets urban gothic horror—this is a slow-burn with enough suspense and creature creepiness to satisfy.