Riz Ahmed enters Relay with the same quiet intensity that has defined his best roles. He plays Tom, a fixer who handles corporate payoffs with the calm precision of a chess player. His performance starts tight and controlled, but as the film unfolds, it slowly reveals something more personal underneath. Opposite him is Lily James as Sarah, a woman whose reasons for seeking him out remain unclear. Their scenes don’t shout, but they hold attention with a quiet grip.
Ahmed’s role here feels like a natural step after Sound of Metal, Encounter, and Nightcrawler. He doesn’t play characters loudly; he lets them sink in. In Relay, he avoids any flashy tricks, and Lily James also shifts her usual rhythm. She delivers a performance that feels calm on the surface but hides something unsteady, maybe even dangerous, just beneath.
The film is directed by David Mackenzie, who keeps the tension sharp but never overblown. Every shot feels deliberate, every movement measured. The script, written by Justin Piasecki, was once called The Broker and made the Black List back in 2019. After years in development, it has finally reached the screen. Some of its early sharpness remains, though there are a few familiar beats along the way.
Relay premiered at TIFF in 2024 before arriving in theaters on August 22, 2025. With 91 reviews counted, it holds a solid 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences are responding even more strongly, with a 92 percent score on the Popcornmeter.
Critics praise the simmering tension between Ahmed and James. Even when the film drifts into predictable territory, their push-and-pull keeps it compelling. Ahmed does more with silence than most actors can with long speeches, while James plays her cards close, keeping you guessing.
The supporting cast includes Sam Worthington, Matthew Maher, and Victor Garber, but it’s Ahmed and James who carry the pulse of the movie. Together, they build a story that never explodes but keeps you locked in, frame by frame.
