Riz Ahmed Steals the Show in Smart, Twisty Thriller Relay
In the latest twisty cat-and-mouse surveillance thriller, David Mackenzie puts his finger on the pulse of modern paranoia, exploiting our anxieties about corporate corruption and government overreach. At its core is a superbly smart script from Justin Piasecki that sets the tone for this dark, cleverly paced thrill ride.
Here to star in this tense game of cat-and-mouse is Riz Ahmed, whose recent turn as a heavy metal drummer on the brink of loss has proven he can bring nuance and depth to his performances. In Relay, he plays a fixer who operates a high-stakes "relay" telephone service – essentially an encrypted messaging system that connects deaf and speech-impaired people with operators who read out typed prompts. It's the perfect cover for his clients' clandestine dealings.
As Ahmed's character takes on a new client, Lily James, in this tense game of espionage, he must carefully navigate his own moral compass to help her get incriminating evidence back from her corrupt employer while keeping it safe from prying eyes. As their emotional connection deepens, the stakes grow higher and the tension mounts.
The movie's pacing is impeccable, hurtling through a maze of high-stakes twists and turns with Mackenzie expertly ratcheting up the tension to almost unbearable levels. The action unfolds against a rich backdrop of modern-day America, with a thrilling musical sequence at a classical concert showcasing Mackenzie's flair for style.
For fans of smart, thought-provoking thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, Relay is a must-watch, thanks in large part to Ahmed's incredible performance. With its ingenious premise and expertly crafted suspense, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat – and questioning everything about our modern world.
In the latest twisty cat-and-mouse surveillance thriller, David Mackenzie puts his finger on the pulse of modern paranoia, exploiting our anxieties about corporate corruption and government overreach. At its core is a superbly smart script from Justin Piasecki that sets the tone for this dark, cleverly paced thrill ride.
Here to star in this tense game of cat-and-mouse is Riz Ahmed, whose recent turn as a heavy metal drummer on the brink of loss has proven he can bring nuance and depth to his performances. In Relay, he plays a fixer who operates a high-stakes "relay" telephone service – essentially an encrypted messaging system that connects deaf and speech-impaired people with operators who read out typed prompts. It's the perfect cover for his clients' clandestine dealings.
As Ahmed's character takes on a new client, Lily James, in this tense game of espionage, he must carefully navigate his own moral compass to help her get incriminating evidence back from her corrupt employer while keeping it safe from prying eyes. As their emotional connection deepens, the stakes grow higher and the tension mounts.
The movie's pacing is impeccable, hurtling through a maze of high-stakes twists and turns with Mackenzie expertly ratcheting up the tension to almost unbearable levels. The action unfolds against a rich backdrop of modern-day America, with a thrilling musical sequence at a classical concert showcasing Mackenzie's flair for style.
For fans of smart, thought-provoking thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, Relay is a must-watch, thanks in large part to Ahmed's incredible performance. With its ingenious premise and expertly crafted suspense, this movie will have you on the edge of your seat – and questioning everything about our modern world.
i love how the film explores the themes of corporate corruption and government overreach, it's like the movie is speaking directly to our anxieties about surveillance and data privacy. the pacing is so expertly done, i was on the edge of my seat from start to finish 
what i loved most about this movie is that it's not just a thrilling ride, but also a thought-provoking commentary on modern society. 5 stars, hands down 
i love how the movie keeps you guessing until the very end, i was literally on the edge of my seat 
and riz ahmed's performance is just incredible 
the way he conveys his character's emotions without saying much is just masterful 
the pacing is so well done too, it's like a thrill ride that never ends 
. David Mackenzie's direction is perfection - the pacing is flawless and the tension is palpable 
. I'm obsessed with this movie now! 
he's literally amazing in it, his character is so complex and multi-layered, and lily james isn't bad either 
but what really gets me is how the movie tackles corporate corruption and government overreach - it's like they're speaking straight to our modern anxieties 
the pacing is insane, i was on the edge of my seat the whole time 
genius! anyway, if you're a fan of smart thrillers, relay is def a must-watch 
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The pacing is insane, I was literally on the edge of my seat during that classical concert scene 
i loved how the script explores all these themes of corporate corruption & government overreach, it's so relevant right now 
david mackenzie is a genius with pacing - this movie had me on edge from start to finish 
can't wait for more thrillers like this in 2025! 
. Can't wait to see more of Riz's work, he's definitely got talent 
!
I mean, I get it, we love a good cat-and-mouse game, but come on, you can see the plot twists coming from a mile away 
. Just don't say I didn't warn you 
.
. It's like David Mackenzie is holding up a mirror to our society, reflecting all the things that keep us up at night 
. I love how the tension builds from this tiny, seemingly insignificant "relay" phone service - it's the perfect metaphor for how our personal lives can be used as leverage against us 
. He's got such range and nuance acting skills 
. The idea of a clandestine messaging system is like, whoa 
it's like, so relevant to today's world 
. And Lily James 
sounds like an awesome co-star 
!
I mean, who knew a guy who looks all cool on screen could actually convey such depth and emotion? 
David Mackenzie should be giving him an Oscar statuette already 
. And let's be real, his character in Relay is basically the most relatable person ever - who wouldn't want to work with an encrypted messaging system as cover? 
it's all just a bunch of generic spy stuff if you ask me. Riz Ahmed might be great in this movie, but let's not get carried away – I bet he's still playing the same character archetypes we've seen 10 times before 
and the plot? please, it's just your standard cat-and-mouse game with a fancy encrypted messaging system 
who thought that was original? 
. It makes you think about how our world works and who's behind the scenes 
. And can we talk about that twisty plot? It's like a puzzle within a puzzle, keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what's real and what's not