Relay starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James debuts with a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes

David Mackenzie's Relay, starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, seemingly turns back the clock to a time when neo-noirs were all in vogue. The trailer made it seem like a high-stakes suspense thriller that is more about silences and less about exposition. It was slick and stylized but restrained by today's standards.

Later, the film received an official 1970s trailer with a voice-over recording. It felt like a nod to similarly stylized and atmospheric thrillers from the 1970s like Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, William Friedkin's The French Connection, or Sidney Lumet's Serpico. So, the marketing made sure that viewers got a sense of what the filmmaker was going for with this project.

It all seems to have paid off well, as the early reviews are mainly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has debuted with a 78% score based on 72 reviews. Let's see what the critics are saying about this crime thriller.

What are critics saying about Relay?

David Mackenzie's Relay premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, a year ahead of its theatrical release in August 2025 by Bleecker Street. Since then, it has reportedly drawn praise for its storytelling style and approach, but some criticism for some aspects of the script.

As teased by the 1970s trailer, the film seems to pay homage to the stylized presentation of the Hollywood New Wave thrillers. In line with this, Lovia Gyarkye from The Hollywood Reporter said,

"The film pays homage to a once-ubiquitous kind of action thriller defined by its brisk pace and satisfying mystery. It's also an exciting New York film."

Manohla Dargis from the New York Times wrote,

"Relay, a slick, sneaky thriller that’s elevated by both the actor and the director, David Mackenzie, makes it clear that Ahmed also has a silent-era performer’s gift for feverish stillness."

Rocco T. Thompson from Slant Magazine praised it, saying,

"Set to the rhythms of a pulsing, ultramodern New York milieu, the film, at its best, wrings real tension and excitement out of the simple exchanging of clandestine messages and sensitive information."

On the other hand, Robert Daniels from Screen International was underwhelmed by the film. In his review, he said,

"Relay falters, unfortunately, the second Mackenzie distrusts the viewer — pulling a twist that neither makes sense nor feels emotionally right."

More details about David Mackenzie's Relay

David Mackenzie's latest film serves as his feature directorial follow-up to Outlaw King, the 2018 historical epic from Netflix. Before that, Mackenzie worked on the multiple Oscar-nominated Western, Hell or High Water (2016), and critically acclaimed Starred Up (2013), headlined by the Sinners star Jack O'Connell.

The official plot synopsis for Relay, per Letterboxd, reads,

"Tom, a world-class 'fixer', specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from potential client Sarah, needing Tom’s protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change."

Apart from Riz Ahmed as Tom and Lily James as Sarah, the cast also includes: