Indie genre feature The Relic | Dragon, a blend of cosmic horror, Viking mythology, and old-school treasure-hunting adventure, is making its festival run with upcoming screenings at FilmQuest 2026, running October 22 through October 31, and at the Austin Film Festival.
The story follows two estranged sisters who are pulled into a mystery surrounding a cursed Viking treasure, a lost manuscript tied to conquistador Francisco Coronado, and an ancient relic capable of unleashing something far larger than anyone expected. The filmmakers lean on practical effects and ambitious world-building to bring that hunt to life.
The production story is a tale of its own. The filmmakers completed the feature for roughly $400,000 while battling brutal weather, gale-force winds, a spider infestation, and even stolen props. Lead actress Taylor Bini, who plays Echo, quit her job to take the role, which became her first paid screen project. Filmmakers Hollis L. Edwards III and Richard C. Jones, along with Bini, are available for interviews through High Roads Collective.
With a monster-friendly mix of cursed artifacts, creature work, and big-swing indie ambition, The Relic | Dragon is one to put on the festival radar for fans of practical-effects horror.
