Some viewers have warned it can be hard to shake off, especially late at night.

The film is scary in places, but also emotional and quite unsettling (Image: BBC)

If you’re thinking about putting a horror film on tonight, this is one people say you should be prepared for. It’s not the kind of film you can just watch and forget about. Instead, it slowly gets under your skin and stays there long after it ends.

Some viewers have even warned that it can be hard to shake off, especially late at night. It’s scary in places, but it is also emotional and quite unsettling. However, it also carries an important message, with many viewers finding the ending beautiful and touching.

Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, and Bella Heathcote in Relic (Image: BBC)

The film in question is Relic, and it holds an impressive 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Those who have already watched it have been raving about it in reviews, but some have issued warnings.

One person wrote on IMDb: “Heartbreakingly brilliant horror film and a must-see hidden gem. But I do have to warn that it is certainly not for the faint hearted. It’s super scary at times and you might think about it when you can’t sleep at night. And that will make your heart pound.”

Another added: “Strong performances by brilliant actors, amazing screenplay, cinematography and directing.

“I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through and literally bit off my nails because I was so nervous. I haven’t seen a movie like this that kept me thinking about it for days afterwards in a long time.”

Robyn Nevin plays Edna, the elderly and widowed matriarch who goes missing (Image: BBC)

A third wrote: “This movie was so well executed but what really SHOOK me to the core was the ending. I would never think a horror movie would carry a message. A true masterpiece!”

Someone else commented: “A truly effective and terrifying movie. I was amazed at how this movie achieved something so terrifying while actually showing the reality of getting old and the choices we will all make. Nothing is as scary as facing our mortality. But the end was touching and beautiful.”

Relic was released in 2020 and is directed by Natalie Erika James, who co-wrote the film with Christian White. It stars Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin and Bella Heathcote.

The story begins when an elderly woman suddenly goes missing. Her daughter and granddaughter return to the family home to try and find her, but things quickly start to feel wrong.

Strange changes appear inside the house, and the situation becomes more unsettling as time goes on.

The film mixes horror with themes around memory, ageing and family. It does not rely on constant jump scares, but instead builds tension slowly throughout. That is one of the reasons many viewers say it feels so intense.

It first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 before being released later that year.

Relic is available to stream free of charge on BBC iPlayer with a valid TV licence.