"Relay" Review: A Gripping Thriller That Almost Hits Perfection

Searching for your next intense cinematic experience? The highly anticipated film "Relay," directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water), delivers a meticulously crafted thriller that masterfully builds tension and procedural intrigue. However, its final act slightly falters, preventing it from reaching its full potential. Anchored by Riz Ahmed’s magnetic and understated performance, this gritty thriller plunges viewers into the shadowy world of corporate whistleblowing through the eyes of a "fixer" who orchestrates high-stakes, anonymous meetings. While the premise and execution are compelling for most of its runtime, a rushed and conventional climax undercuts the film’s earlier subtlety, leaving it just short of true greatness. Dive into our detailed "Relay" review to see if this suspenseful film is for you.

Relay: A Gritty Thriller with a Flawed but Gripping Core

Riz Ahmed's Performance: A Masterclass in Understated Acting

Riz Ahmed delivers a career-best performance in Relay, conveying immense emotional depth with minimal dialogue. His portrayal of the "fixer" is of a man burdened by the weight of his critical role—not just the logistical precision it demands, but the profound moral toll of facilitating truths he can never openly acknowledge. Critics universally praise his ability to project internal conflict through subtle micro-expressions: a clenched jaw, a hesitant pause, and the flicker of exhaustion behind his professional detachment. Ahmed’s exceptional acting ensures the audience remains deeply emotionally invested, even as the plot’s broader contours become more familiar. His undeniable chemistry with co-stars, particularly the whistleblowers he meticulously shields, adds compelling layers of tension, as every interaction carries the potential for betrayal or exposure.

David Mackenzie's Direction in Relay: Precision and Suspense

David Mackenzie’s direction for Relay is a masterclass in controlled tension. The film’s first two acts unfold with a deliberate, almost clinical pace, meticulously mirroring the fixer’s own routines. Mackenzie and cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen (A Quiet Place) expertly employ tight framing and muted colors to amplify the claustrophobia of a life spent operating in the margins. Scenes set in transit—train stations, dimly lit hotel lobbies, and shadowy back alleys—become compelling stages for silent chess matches, where a wrong glance or an unexpected delay could unravel everything. The score, sparse and pulsating, further heightens the pervasive unease, skillfully avoiding the bombast of typical modern thrillers.

However, the film stumbles in its departure from this carefully maintained restraint. The final act abruptly abandons the procedural tension for a more conventional action set-piece, complete with chase sequences and a hastily resolved confrontation. This shift feels tonally disjointed, as if the filmmakers lost faith in the audience’s patience for ambiguity. Critics note that the script (penned by Source Code’s Ben Ripley) sets up intriguing themes—corporate impunity and the true cost of truth—but struggles to pay them off satisfactorily. The ending, while visually slick, ultimately lacks the moral or narrative weight to fully justify the meticulously built suspense.

Exploring Themes: Anonymity, Accountability, and Corporate Whistleblowing in Relay

At its core, Relay profoundly explores the complex paradox of corporate whistleblowing: the undeniable need for transparency within a system that inherently demands secrecy. The fixer’s intricate role is inherently contradictory—he enables crucial truth-telling while simultaneously striving to erase himself from the entire equation, effectively becoming a ghost in the machine. The film’s most compelling moments delve deep into this tension, particularly in powerful scenes where Ahmed’s character must make agonizing decisions about how much to intervene when lives hang precariously in the balance. However, these profound themes are often overshadowed by the plot’s mechanical demands, leading to them being somewhat underdeveloped. A subplot involving a sharp journalist (portrayed by Diane Kruger) hints at deeper questions about media complicity and ethics, but it is regrettably relegated to the background, leaving potential for more profound exploration untapped.

Relay Review: A Flawed Yet Gripping Thriller Worth Watching

"Relay" ultimately presents itself as a film of two halves: a masterful slow-burn thriller in its initial stages that regrettably loses its nerve and precision in the home stretch. Riz Ahmed’s compelling performance and David Mackenzie’s disciplined direction elevate it significantly above standard genre fare. However, the somewhat formulaic finale prevents it from joining the ranks of modern classics like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The Insider. Still, for dedicated fans of character-driven suspense and intricate crime thrillers, it remains a truly gripping ride—just one that unfortunately stumbles slightly before crossing the finish line.

Rating: ★★★☆ (3/4) – Relay is a must-watch film for Riz Ahmed’s captivating performance and its exceptionally tense first acts, but be prepared for an ending that may leave some viewers wanting a more satisfying and less conventional resolution.