Thrillers about spies and undercover operatives tend to focus on characters more than method.  There’s certainly nothing wrong with that.  You root for the James Bond-like hero as they take down a villain with sinister motives.  Relay is not dissimilar but what creates an interesting point of difference is the heightened emphasis on “method”.  Instead of using the two hours to create backstories regarding families and love interests, writer Justin Piasecki gets into the nitty-gritty of “spy work” and the creative ways they avoid detection.

Set largely in New York City, Tom (Ahmed) works for a secretive organization which acts as an intermediary between dodgy folk.  His latest assignment has him working for Sarah (James), a researcher sacked by a biotech company after she expressed internal dissatisfaction with their practices.  Before leaving, Sarah took a copy of a damning food safety report which would threaten the company’s value and reputation but, after having second thoughts, she’s decided not to go public.  She knows the dangers of being a whistleblower and would rather maintain a simpler life.

This is where Tom comes in.  For a juicy fee, it’s incumbent on him to craft a solution which works for both parties.  The biotech company’s bigwigs will pay hush money to Sarah and in return, she will hand over all documents and keep quiet.  A major part of Tom’s responsibilities is to ensure everyone fulfills their obligations in terms of the short and long term.  He must do this as covertly as possible, from the exchange of money through to the protection of people, to keep it under the radar of the public and local police.

Relay is fun, slick entertainment.  It’s great to follow Tom as he meticulously puts plans in place and outsmarts a group of savvy adversaries.  He’s damn good at his job with his extensive experience providing a sense of control and confidence.  However, his line of work creates issues in his personal life (few friends, a lack of trust) that result in a sense of “emptiness”.  Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) shines in the juicy lead role.  Lily James (Downton Abbey) and Australian Sam Worthington (Avatar) have less to do but still impress with their supporting performances.

Directed by the skilful David Mackenzie, the man behind the Oscar nominated Hell or High Water, Relay keeps you thinking and keeps you on your toes.