David Mackenzie’s ‘Relay’ is His Best Film Since ‘Hell or High Water’ — Trailer Released Ahead of August Release

Last year at TIFF, I managed to catch most of “Relay,” a slick, quietly intense corporate thriller that had its world premiere at the fest. It’s exactly the kind of under-the-radar discovery I go to TIFF for — not high-brow enough for Venice, and not self-serious or artful enough to crack Telluride’s tightly curated lineup.

A trailer has just been released in anticipation of its August 22 release — Bleecker Street is distributing this one.

David Mackenzie is back in the director’s chair, working from a script by Justin Piasecki. Mackenzie, of course, hasn’t really hit the highs of “Hell or High Water” in the years since. “Relay” finds him in slightly colder terrain—less dusty Texas, more encrypted hard drives and encrypted motives. It’s probably his best film in almost 10 years.

Riz Ahmed plays Tom, a high-functioning middleman who specializes in cleaning up messes for companies that can’t afford bad press. He’s slick, clinical, always five moves ahead. That is, until he meets Sarah (Lily James), a whistleblower with something far more dangerous than a file folder of secrets—she has a conscience.

The two leads are the heart of the movie. Ahmed, always compelling, seems energized by Mackenzie’s formal control. Their collaboration clicks. Lily James leans into Sarah’s vulnerability without making her feel like a victim. There’s a low-simmering chemistry here, one that never overwhelms the tension but gives the film an emotional charge.

I also love how Mackenzie roots the film firmly in New York City, letting it unfold across real urban spaces—iconic spots like Times Square, the Financial District, and Brooklyn. The city’s high-stakes energy isn’t just a backdrop; it seeps into every scene, shaping the atmosphere.

“Relay” isn’t reinventing the genre, and it’s that humbling nature that makes it work. It doesn’t always land, but when it does, there’s a sting to it.