When Ash (Riz Ahmed) works, it’s like he’s from another time entirely, rarely prioritizing current technology. As a fixer based in New York City, Ash uses a relay phone service to stay in contact with his clients and conceal his voice. He rarely uses the internet outside a local library, and one of his biggest tools is the postal service. It makes perfect sense that Ash would feel like a character not of the present, as Relay, David Mackenzie’s first film since 2018’s Outlaw King, is a fantastic throwback to the conspiracy thrillers of a bygone era. Ash wouldn’t seem out of place in The Parallax View or Three Days of the Condor, and it’s his tactile, meticulous planning and watching how his plans play out that make Relay such a tight, well-crafted throwback that we need more of these days.
What Is ‘Relay’ About?

Relay begins with a sequence that would make for a thrilling short on its own. A man named Hoffman (Matthew Maher) meets with McVie (Victor Garber), the CEO of Optimo Pharmaceuticals. Hoffman considered being a whistleblower, but he’s changed his mind and just wants his life to get back to how it used to be. Hoffman gives McVie the documents, but to make sure McVie keeps his end of the bargain to leave Hoffman alone, Hoffman has hired a third party to hold another copy of the documents, just in case. This is where we meet Ash, who not only keeps an eye on his client’s documents but also Hoffman himself, making sure he’s safe and that he can go back to life as normal. Ash likes to keep himself a mystery, protecting himself and his clients. He uses a machine for the deaf that’s akin to a typewriter to type out messages that are read by a relay service to his clients. He uses extremely specific steps to help manage whoever he’s helping and to keep them safe from the corporations trying to stop them. He is careful not to leave a trail, and as we see with Hoffman, his precision and care in making sure everything goes to plan make him excellent at his job. Soon after Hoffman seems safe, he receives a new assignment in Sarah Grant (Lily James), a scientist who warned her former employer, Cybo Sementics, about dangerous chemicals that could impact thousands. She planned on being a whistleblower, but like Hoffman, after being harassed and followed by the company, she wants a return to normalcy. To get Cybo and their fixers (who include Sam Worthington and Willa Fitzgerald) off her back, Sarah gets in contact with Ash, who accepts this new client, and it may be his biggest challenge yet.
‘Relay’ Is an Exciting, Clever Thriller Straight From the ’70s

Written by Justin Piasecki and directed by Mackenzie, Relay is at its most exciting when we get to watch Ash’s plans unfold with remarkable accuracy or see how they fall apart with the slightest change. In films like 2013’s Starred Up and 2016’s Hell or High Water, Mackenzie has proven his gift for building tension and playing with the uncertainty of what could happen next. Mackenzie’s talents as a director work beautifully with Piasecki’s script, which seems to have thought of every angle, every possibility, and every way things could go wrong. For the first half hour, we don’t even hear Ash speak, but instead, we watch him work from the shadows, his method working against the madness, and it’s the kind of filmmaking that puts you on the edge of your seat. For Ash’s clients, the process of what he’s going to do can seem overwhelming at times, as though there are too many moving parts to keep track of, but when we watch it all play out and come together, it’s a blast to see everything work as it should. Piasecki’s screenplay also allows plenty of opportunities to show and not tell. This isn’t just the case with these intense situations, which we don’t quite fully understand until we’re in the middle of them, but it’s also true for how Piasecki presents this cast of characters — particularly Ash. Ahmed spends the majority of the film silent and alone, and much of the time, we have to put together who he is from the brief glimpses of his life outside this job that we do see. Even when Ash is in his AA meetings, he often doesn’t open up to those who are there to support him, but once we start to get pieces of what brought him down this path, the entire picture comes together.
Riz Ahmed Is a Great Lead to ‘Relay’s Captivating Story

Image via Bleecker Street

Relay also boasts Ahmed’s best performance since his Oscar-nominated performance in Sound of Metal. Yet, since Ash is a mostly silent character, we often see how his processes are worked out simply through his mannerisms and eyes. It’s a performance that relies on Ahmed’s subtlety and ability to present his internal feelings often without saying a word. In the opening sequence, when it looks as though Hoffman is being followed by two heavies, it’s Ahmed’s eyes full of fear at what might happen next that makes the sequence work. His ability to act quickly and change his plans on the fly in the heat of the moment makes every action scene captivating. Despite how well directed and specific this script is, Relay likely wouldn’t work half as well without Ahmed’s performance tying it all together. This is also a strong performance from James, who also usually has to present her fear and uncertainty of her situation without being able to play off anyone. It’s another great opportunity for her to show her nuance as an actor, and the way her character shifts and evolves throughout the film is truly thrilling to watch. Also having quite a bit of fun is Sam Worthington as the lead of Cybo Sementics’ team to track Sarah. It’s a chance for Worthington to go all-in on being a dislikable villain, and he’s delightfully reprehensible in the role. Where Relay does stumble a bit is in the relationship between Ash and Sarah, as the two begin to recognize their loneliness, which leads to a potential romance. It’s not that Ahmed and James don’t have solid chemistry when they’re playing off each other, it’s just that the script doesn’t make this entirely believable — especially for someone like Ash, who has undergone this type of solitude working with countless other clients. While the film absolutely nails its throwback thriller angle, when it tries to dive into romance, it rings false, especially as the plot starts to ramp up. Relay is the type of thriller that you can’t wait to revisit even as you’re watching it for the first time. Its twisty, gripping narrative is always propulsive and revealing itself, while Ahmed and James fit perfectly into this genre. As movies start to deviate between larger, big-budget titles hogging the theaters while smaller, quieter films get thrown to streaming, Relay is a reminder that this shouldn’t be the case, as this is the type of exhilarating, wild ride that people specifically go to the movies for. Relay is a tense, edge-of-your-seat ride that reminds you that they do still make them like they used to, it’s just, unfortunately, not nearly as common anymore. Relay comes to theaters on August 22.

Relay

Relay, starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James is a tight, exciting thriller that feels like a throwback to the ’70s.

Release Date

August 22, 2025

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

David Mackenzie

Writers

Justin Piasecki, David Mackenzie

Pros & Cons

Relay’s exhilarating narrative will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
Riz Ahmed and Lily James are both great at playing the subtlety needed in quieter roles.
It’s the type of movie you’ll be excited to rewatch even as you’re watching it the first time.

The attempts at romance, right as the story is amping up, doesn’t do Relay any favors.