Carl Roberts 
“Relay is a welcome throwback to the classic conspiracy movies of the 1970s, featuring a great performance from Riz Ahmed.”
Are you old enough to remember those classic conspiracy thriller movies from the 1970s? Films like The Parallax View and Three Days Of The Condor are among the standouts of the decade. But there are more. Over the years, others have fit into the genre. However, none could match those heady days of the 1970s. That has now changed. Hitting screens this Friday is the thriller, Relay. The thriller stars Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington. Directed by David Mackenzie and written by Justin Piasecki, the film is a tense, twisting movie, as you would expect. But is it a thriller to be proud of, or should it have been left on the shelf?
PREMISE
The film follows a fixer who assists whistleblowers while concealing his identity through a relay service for the deaf. 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.
No callers are identified. No conversations are recorded. And no phone records are kept. Now speak clearly, and when you are finished, say, ‘Go ahead.’
THOUGHTS
This is a well-plotted, well-conceived, and well-thought-out thriller. It is a deliberate slow burn, designed to keep the audience on their toes. The film allows them to follow along with the events while reaching a great climax. It will enable the audience to get to know the characters and their traits. Instead of simply diving in and allowing them to become one-dimensional, the film takes its time. Except for a few villains, every main character is given time to breathe. They become a vital cog in the film’s machinery.
While some may complain that the film moves too slowly, it is deliberately done to allow the audience to see and understand the events and the characters. Again, this is akin to the conspiracy thrillers from yesteryear. It provides a wonderful throwback to those days. The slow-burning plot builds to a shattering climax. And there are some brilliant twists to be had, too. This is old school cinema at its finest.
RIZ AHMED
Riz Ahmed as Ash is a mysterious but fulfilling character, played to perfection. The actor hardly speaks in the film until the final third, and only then does he need to. With such a quiet, human, and engrossing performance, Ahmed becomes an unlikely hero that the audience embraces. But that’s the beauty of it. You don’t think Ash is any hero in any real sense of the word. But beneath the quiet, unassuming persona lies a dedicated, calculating man with many surprises. Ahmed doesn’t need to say much as Ash; he allows his actions to do the talking for him, bringing us a gentle, cunning, clever man who is excellent at his job. His guard is always up until he lets it slip later on. Ahmed is likable in his role, gaining the audience’s trust and delivering in spades.
LILY JAMES
Lily James as Sarah Grant delivers a heartfelt, emotional performance as the young woman trying to do the right thing under pressure and threat. For most of the film, she and Ahmed don’t meet face to face; instead, they rely on a relay service for the deaf to communicate. This allows her character to breathe, to become whole, and to add an intriguing air of mystery to the film. She expresses her fears and feelings and tries to become a friend to Ash through their method of communication. It is an understated performance from the actress, one that resonates with the audience. But we do get the feeling, at times, that she isn’t as vulnerable as she makes out. Whether she is or not remains for the audience to discover.
SAM WORTHINGTON
Sam Worthington as Dawson, the villain of the piece, is actually thoroughly likable throughout. Yes, he comes across as sinister at various points. He does act like he’s out to kill Sarah once he completes his assignment. But that doesn’t stop us from admiring his character at various times. Laser-focused on the task one minute; friendly and amiable the next, Worthington embraces his character thoroughly. This, again, is an understated performance. Worthington makes Dawson believable, human, rather than the usual mechanical villains who appear in other movies of this sort. In a way, he comes across in the same vein as Max Von Sydow in Three Days Of The Condor. Both had jobs to do, and both will kill if the assignment calls for it, but they do it quietly rather than all bluster.
WRITING AND DIRECTION
The screenplay by Justin Piasecki is a wonderfully twisting, slow-burning thriller that takes its time developing the characters, the plot, and the events before piecing it all together in a sensational climax. At times, the buildup feels almost in the same vein as the quieter moments in The Equalizer trilogy. Instead of being violent, foul-mouthed, and action-packed, it takes its time to establish everyone and everything. It is tightly plotted but never gets too heavy for the audience to have fun with. Instead, his screenplay hooks the audience, making them think as they watch the film and study every aspect before tying the ends together. And it is clever to go down this route. It doesn’t spoil the tension by building up this way.
David Mackenzie’s direction is masterful. He allows everything to breathe, to play out in front of the audience without resorting to the tropes we usually see. It is a thinking person’s thriller. We sit in awe as the camera covers every aspect of what Ash and Sarah are going through, as well as Dawson and his crew. Mackenzie makes the most of his New York City and New Jersey locations, making them look beautiful while also showing us some of the more urban sides. The film’s look shifts from colourful to gritty when needed, lending it an authentic feel. The director also draws superb performances from his cast, never allowing the narrative to overwhelm or cover them. In total, the film is fantastic to look at, while the locations play a vital part in what’s happening and what’s to come.
VERDICT
Relay is a welcome throwback to the classic conspiracy movies of the 1970s, featuring an excellent performance from Riz Ahmed. At 112 minutes, it is tightly plotted, never allowing for anything to sag or grate on the audience. It is one of those films we don’t see much anymore —a decent conspiracy thriller that actually makes us think. Are there people out in the world who do the job Ash performs in the film? Do companies like Ash’s actually exist? Could there be organisations like Dawson’s that are sent out to reclaim the evidence of wrongdoing before any money changes hands? These are questions we find ourselves asking after the film has finished. And the reality could shake us to our cores.
At the end of the day, Relay does all it needs to and more. It becomes a convincing tale that also feels like a warning to anyone attempting what Sarah and Ash are doing. Danger lurks around every corner, whether we see it or not. Someone out there could be watching us right now without our knowledge. Could that friendly person we meet on the street actually be there on purpose, keeping an eye on us? With a twist we don’t see coming, a solid script, excellent direction, and spirited performances, Relay is a stunning thriller that resonates. And provides a great time in the cinema.
Relay is in cinemas from Friday, courtesy of Black Bear.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
