Relay
August 20th, 2025
MOVIE: RELAY
STARRING: RIZ AHMED, LILY JAMES, SAM WORTHINGTON, WILLA FITZGERALD
DIRECTED BY: DAVID MACKENZIE
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 112 MINUTES
The technology of yesterday and today comes together in David Mackenzie’s Relay, a gripping throwback to classic spy thrillers like The Third Man, The Conversation, and The Pelican Brief. These types of films deserve a comeback—and Relay makes a strong case for it.
The story follows Sarah (Lily James), a former employee of a major food company, who uncovers that a new GMO strain is causing cancer. When she attempts to blow the whistle, she finds herself stalked, threatened, and desperate to make it stop. Seeking justice, she turns to Ash (Riz Ahmed), a reclusive blackmailer who uses a talk-to-text relay service to maintain anonymity and pressure his targets. Their alliance sets off a tense, dangerous chain of events involving extortion, surveillance, and moral compromise.
Ahmed gives another strong performance as Ash, a loner living in a hidden warehouse on the outskirts of New York. We meet him after a successful job blackmailing a chemical company, just before he takes on Sarah’s case. The tension escalates as they’re pursued by a dangerous group, including a menacing Sam Worthington and an enigmatic Willa Fitzgerald. As Ash gets closer to Sarah, his judgment slips, threatening the mission and their safety.
Relay takes a moment to orient the viewer, but Mackenzie never lets the story stall. Characters are constantly being watched, followed, or surveilled, creating a mood of paranoia and urgency. The relay service adds a unique layer—Ash and Sarah’s sharp, coded conversations unfold in real time, maintaining suspense and intrigue throughout. Each new twist reveals more about who these characters are and the ethical lines they’re willing to cross.
What elevates Relay is its authenticity and originality. Mackenzie never over-explains the tech or the tactics, trusting the audience to keep up. That trust pays off in an engaging, edge-of-your-seat experience. Beneath the plot lies a deeper theme: characters who are cold, isolated, and searching for connection—finding it, unexpectedly, through chaos.
If that doesn’t convince you to watch Relay, maybe I haven’t done a good job relaying the message. But trust me—don’t miss it.
3 ½ STARS
RELAY IS PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
