The Relic

In a Chicago museum a string of brutal incidents pulls two unlikely partners into a high stakes crucial investigation. Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, a seasoned homicide detective, teams with Dr. Margo Green, an evolutionary biologist, to explain a creature that should not exist and is terrorizing visitors. As their clues lead them through exhibit halls, restricted laboratories, and shadowy maintenance tunnels, they discover a predator that is enormous, adaptive, and unsettlingly intelligent. The hunt spirals from routine forensics to survival mode as security systems fail and the public faces growing risk. With time running out, the duo must translate science into action and outwit a threat that seems to transcend conventional categories of crime and nature. Claustrophobic visuals heighten the tension.

Released in 1997, The Relic was directed by Peter Hyams and adapted from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's novel Relic, with Amy Holden Jones handling screenplay duties. The result blends horror and sci fi intrigue with a grounded procedural edge.

The film grossed $33,956,608 worldwide on a $60,000,000 budget, signaling a modest return for a mid 90s creature feature. Despite the big studio backing and capable ensemble, domestic and international receipts lagged behind expectations, disappointing some investors and fans alike.

The Relic has a modest cultural footprint among late 90s horror thrillers. Its mix of museum setting, practical creature effects, and a tense chase through echoing halls appeals to fans of B grade creature features. The film is often remembered for its atmospheric scale rather than groundbreaking ideas, pleasing collectors.

Critics tended to praise the film's brisk tempo and solid performances, while noting familiar genre beats. The story probes tension between scientific curiosity and public safety, raising questions about ethics in experimentation and the price of knowledge when the unknown proves deadly, keeping viewers engaged, and inviting discussion about science.