One of the harder tasks of modern films is the amount of mystery technology takes from storytelling. We’ve all read the articles about Home Alone wouldn’t have been such an adventure had the MacAllisters had access to mobile phones, or how video and voice notes would have saved Memento’s Leonard a lot of ink. Relay, however, offers a novel way to keep its protagonist in the shadows in an online world.
Riz Ahmed plays Ash, a man who helps mediates between whistleblowers and the companies they intend to expose, finding a way out for people who regret their findings and simply wish to return their incriminating documents and move on. He maintains his anonymity by calling clients and their former employers through the relay service, intended for people who are hard of hearing to make untraceable calls through an interpreter.
He is approached by Sarah (Lily James), a former employee of a research company who has evidence of a cover up regarding a new product. Wishing to return the documents and get on with her life, their process is complicated by a counterintelligence team lead by the ruthless Dawson (Sam Worthington). With the net closing in, Ash must break his code to help Sarah survive.
Much of the enjoyment of the film comes from its process. Ash finds exploits in modern life that allows him to move through the world without a footprint, and it’s fascinating to see those tricks and hacks work without ever seeming too farfetched. So intriguing is his methods, that it allows Ahmed to be compelling as a character without speaking for much of the first half of the movie.
Director David Mackenzie, who broke through with 2016’s equally impressive Hell Or High Water, keeps the tension rising as numerous threads come together in a way that makes for a satisfying third act if your blood pressure can handle it. The film maybe loses some of that verve as Ash and Sarah become closer, perhaps one of the few expected plot points that pop up, but with two solid leads it seems less of a burden.
James makes a believable performance of an intelligent but overwhelmed woman in a world she doesn’t understand, being a passenger to all the espionage without feeling like a sidekick. Ahmed is, as ever, eminently watchable, with twitching eyes constantly monitoring the situation, and a calm demeanour convincing you Ash could get away with all this sleight of hand.
Worthington, by contrast, is more of a blunt instrument, gruffly harassing potential leads and becoming increasingly frustrated that all the tools in his ever-present spy truck can be undone. It’s the least subtle performance in the movie, but it does the job.
Some films can be too smart for their own good and get ultimately found out when the time comes to show their hand. Relay, however, finds a balance between intelligence and entertainment, making for a bracing thriller that cuts through both surveillance culture and corporate responsibility.
★★★★
In cinemas from October 31st/ Riz Ahmed, Lily James, Sam Worthington/ Dir. David Mackenzie/ Black Bear / 15
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