‘Relay’ Blu-ray (review)

Decal Releasing

“Strange talking to someone who knows so bout you when you know so little about them…”

Are you yearning for a taut retro thriller?

Relay (directed and co-written by Hell or High Water’s David Mackenzie) will certainly fit the bill.

We’ve all seen movies like Erin Brockovitch, Silkwood or The Insider which pit plucky, principled whistle-blowers against evil corporate bad guys, but what happens when those whistle-blowers realise the odds are stacked against them and just want out?

Relay tells the story of scientist Sarah (Lily James), who discovers her employers are trying to suppress dangerous side-effects of a revolutionary new agricultural product which could affect millions of people – if this becomes public knowledge, it will put the kibosh on a billion dollar deal.

She decides to do the right thing, only to lose her job and come under threat from a group of corporate fixers-cum-mercenaries led by Sam Worthington and Reacher’s Willa Fitzgerald.

At the end of her tether, she turns to the mysterious Ash (Riz Ahmed), a high tech intermediary who brokers deals between informers and their bosses, guaranteeing safety and secrecy for them both,  He uses an audio messenging service, (the “Relay” of the title), to communicate, a system impenetrable to hackers or court orders, meaning no-one knows what he looks or sounds like.

As the stakes get higher and the game of cat and mouse becomes more deadly, the emotionally damaged Ash develops feelings for Sarah… what new secrets lie in store for them and will they make it out alive?  You’ll just have to watch and see.

I enjoyed this movie – it’s pacy, full of twists, (more about that in a moment), and definitely hearkens back to the classic conspiracy flicks of the seventies and eighties.  Riz Ahmed turns in another quality performance as the taciturn, troubled hero; so taciturn, in fact, he doesn’t utter a word onscreen until a good half hour into the film!  He has a stoic intensity here and it seems as if there’s always something going on under the calm exterior.  (He spends so much time typing, it wouldn’t surprise me if the first draft was titled “Keyboard Warrior”!)

Admittedly Lily James’ Sarah does spend a while moping around and looking gorgeous, (I must admit, I do too), but she is convincing as a vulnerable yet spunky heroine for the most part.  Worthington and Fitzgerald are competent enough, (Fitzgerald is wasted, judging by her past work), but it’s the slickness of the set pieces and reversals as Ash anticipates and outwits his pursuers that keeps us interested, rather than gun battles or martial arts. (The back story explaining Ash’s paranoia, ruthless self control and preternatural skills doesn’t quite satisfy me, but hey, I read comics!)

In another reality, this premise would be a Leverage/ Hustle style TV series, but I think it works best as a movie, pushing the hero to his limits.  It makes great use of New York locations, (how I miss that city!), and never overstays its welcome… but what about those twists, you say?  With this kind of story, you always expect reversals and twists as part of the DNA, but without giving spoilers, one twist near the end of the film is so jaw-droppingly out there that it will test your tolerance to breaking point.

Up to that point, everything had slotted into place like a new jigsaw puzzle and for me, the good will and interest generated thus far carried me through to the end.

In conclusion, it’s not perfect, but works as a taut retro-tastic thriller which refreshingly isn’t part of some lumbering franchise.  Give it a try.