Riz Ahmed Shines in Gripping Thriller ‘Relay’

‘RELAY’ isn’t here to play fair

By Janet Grant

Relay sets up an intriguing premise: Riz Ahmed plays a whistleblower broker, the kind of middleman who keeps corruption humming by making sure the “right” people get paid off at the “right” time. He has rules, he has boundaries, and he’s very good at what he does—until he decides to break his own code and step in to protect a client. That’s where the story picks up steam, pulling in Lily James and Sam Worthington as part of the messy, dangerous fallout.

The good first—Riz Ahmed, who plays Ash aka “TOM,” is magnetic here. There is a quiet intensity that makes you believe every move he makes, even when the script doesn’t fully back him up as it should. Lily James as “SARAH” brings a sharpness that balances him well, and their scenes together carry a real spark. The film also looks sleek, with a style that matches the high-stakes, backroom-deal atmosphere. There are moments of genuine tension where you’re not sure who’s double-crossing whom, and those land exactly the way they should.

Now the not-so-good. The pacing wobbles. The setup is so strong, but by the middle act, the movie seems unsure whether it wants to be a tight thriller or a moral character study. Some scenes drag while others feel rushed, and that imbalance keeps the film from hitting as hard as it could. Sam Worthington, while serviceable, doesn’t bring the same layered performance as Ahmed and James, which makes his role feel flatter than it should.

Overall, Relay isn’t perfect, but it’s compelling enough to keep you hooked. It’s a character-driven thriller that shines brightest when Ahmed is on screen, reminding you why he’s one of the most interesting actors working today.

“Riz Ahmed proves again why he’s one of the most magnetic actors working today.”

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