Relay
A broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive.
Kevin Ward reviewed
October 4, 2025•
Corporate espionage / whistle-blower, techno-thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James and directed by David McKenzie, probably best known for Hell or High Water. The central concept essentially being that Ahmed’s character uses a telecom relay system intended for the hearing impaired as his main method of subterfuge when assisting his whistle-blower clients. And with Sam Worthington hot on their tails, the film makes for a pretty effective thriller. Therr’e a constant back and forth play for power depending on who has the leverage and who can stay one step ahead of the other. I kind of wish Worthington had a larger role and that film revolved more around their cat and mouse game and less around the pseudo-romance of Riz and Lily (because that was not believable to me, at all). I won’t spoil anything, but in the third act, there’s something that happens that, in the moment, I thought was an interesting turn and I was feeling like it was a smart reveal. But then moments after finishing watching, I had the feeling like that plot turn doesn’t really hold up to much scrutiny. Liked this way more than The Amateur from earlier this year. Similar vibe though.