From Hell or High Water to Perfect Sense, director David Mackenzie has shown time and time again that he knows how to make a film that keeps you on edge. His latest, Relay, does that in spades, and it might just be the best film he’s ever made.
Sarah (Lily James) has a problem. She was fired from her job and stole documents on her way out that show how corrupt the company is. She hires the mysterious Tom (Riz Ahmed) to help her stay alive, but she never meets him in person. Instead he communicates with her through the New York Relay system, a telecommunications service offered for free to the hard of hearing. Unfortunately things don’t go the way Tom had planned them too, and he breaks his rules. Now he too is on the run, and fighting for his very survival.
Relay is a film that not only keeps you interested, but keeps your heart pounding. It builds in speed throughout, and it feels like it never slows down. James plays a great damsel in distress, who makes every stupid mistake she can along the way. Ahmed on the other hand has more depth, and you wonder how he managed to get himself in the position he’s in. There are hints, but you really want to know more.
With the right promotion, Relay could be a big hit. It should be a big hit. It’s unique, fun, and will keep a wide variety of audiences entertained.
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Thriller
- Release Date: 9/8/2024
- Directed by: David Mackenzie
- Starring: Lily James, Riz Ahmed, Sam Worthington, Willa Fitzgerald
- Produced by: Basil Iwanyk, David Mackenzie, Gillian Berrie, Teddy Schwarzman
- Written by: Justin Piasecki
- Studio: Black Bear Pictures, Sigma Films, Thunder Road
