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Relay
2025 112 min United States of America, United Kingdom R 18+
★7.2
Action, Drama, Thriller
Director: David Mackenzie
Trailers
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Teaser
Teaser
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Description
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.
US Gross:
$3.16M
Worldwide:
$4.45M
Starring
Riz Ahmed
Actor
Lily James
Actor
Sam Worthington
Actor
Key opinion
Relay is widely praised for its high-concept premise and Riz Ahmed's grounded, intense lead performance. While the film excels at building immersive tension in its first half, many critics agree that the narrative falters significantly by shifting into formulaic action cliches and a disappointing final act.
| Acting | Riz Ahmed delivers a compelling performance, utilizing a largely silent, internal approach to ground the protagonist's professional competence. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes naturalistic New York cinematography to create an authentic, immersive atmosphere that elevates the initial tension. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay suffers from a decline in quality, shifting from a smart, unique negotiation thriller into predictable and implausible genre cliches. | |
| Direction | David Mackenzie’s direction is caught between a strong, ambitious setup and a disjointed final product that fails to sustain its intellectual potential. | |
| Ending | The film's conclusion divides opinion, with many viewers finding the final plot twist and resolution both simplistic and detached from the movie's earlier complexity. |