Why You Shouldn’t Sleep On Riz Ahmed’s Underrated 2025 Crime Thriller

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2025 was an exceptionally strong year for films, possibly the best of the 21st century so far. The diverse and competitive field for the 2026 awards clearly shows this. As a result, many excellent movies from 2025 haven’t received the attention they deserve.

As a movie fan, I’ve been so impressed with the incredible performances we’ve seen lately – actors like Cillian Murphy and Saoirse Ronan, who didn’t always get the spotlight they deserved, have really shone in some amazing dramas. And honestly, 2025 was a year where films that weren’t the usual blockbusters really took off, and some of the typical crowd-pleasers didn’t do as well. It’s fantastic! Trying to pick the best thrillers of the year feels impossible because there were so many great ones.

Riz Ahmed is a consistently excellent actor in Hollywood, earning critical acclaim – including an Oscar nomination for his role in the film Sound of Metal. Despite strong performances from Ahmed and other well-known actors, the thriller didn’t get the attention it deserved when it was released. With fewer new movies coming out now, it’s a perfect time to catch up with it.

Riz Ahmed Is The Lead Actor In Relay

In the film Relay, directed by David Mackenzie, Riz Ahmed plays Ash, a man who helps people keep quiet about sensitive corporate information in exchange for money and protection. The story begins with a man returning confidential documents to his company, and Ash is tasked with ensuring his safe journey home on the train.

Ash’s next client is under a lot of pressure – she’s being constantly monitored by corporate spies who want to get back stolen files. Though initially anxious, she manages to follow Ash’s complicated directions, successfully delivering the files to him without the surveillance team realizing what’s happening.

Critics are calling Relay one of the most thrilling movies of 2025. While it might have earned even more at the box office, it faced tough competition from other major releases that year. A key to the film’s success is Ahmed’s subtle and captivating performance, which keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end.

Relay’s Ensemble Cast Is Surprisingly Stacked

Riz Ahmed adds depth to the film with a strong performance and well-developed character. Sam Worthington, famous for his role in Avatar, Willa Fitzgerald, known from Strange Darling, and up-and-coming Canadian actor Jared Abrahamson play the team members tracking Ash’s client, Sarah, who is portrayed by Lily James. Victor Garber also appears in a smaller part.

Matthew Maher portrays Ash’s former client, and the story starts with him. Eisa Davis plays Ash’s sponsor, providing support in her recovery. Riz Ahmed and Lily James have incredible chemistry, even though they share very few scenes together, showcasing their acting skills. With such a talented cast, the movie Relay promises to be something special, and the trailer hints at that potential.

Relay’s Unique Premise Deserves More Attention

Ash earned the nickname ‘Relay’ because he intentionally keeps his voice hidden from clients to protect his identity. He uses a relay calling service – originally intended for people with hearing impairments – to make all his calls. This creates challenges for both his clients and the corporate spies who try to monitor his communications.

The film fully develops its interesting starting idea, including the budding connection between Ash and Sarah. They build a relationship through conversations using a relay service, all without ever meeting in person. Called Relay, the show became a popular streaming hit on Netflix in the US, attracting viewers with its unique plot – a refreshing change in the often predictable world of crime thrillers.

You Can’t Predict Relay’s Final Twist

About midway through, the film Relay begins to feel like it doesn’t quite live up to its interesting initial idea. This is largely because the story unfolds in a simple, predictable way, without much creative editing. Looking back, it seems the writers, David Mackenzie and Justin Piasecki, and Mackenzie as director, were very confident in the strength of their script and his ability to deliver a consistently well-made film.

That’s why Relay holds its biggest surprise for the last fifteen minutes – a reveal that completely changes how you understand everything that happened before. The twist works so well because it comes out of nowhere; there’s no obvious hinting or preparation, so viewers can’t guess it, even if they’re actively looking for clues.

Relay’s Suspenseful Setpieces Are Its Biggest Strength

Although the basic idea behind Relay is interesting, what really makes it a great thriller is how each scene is built. Instead of focusing on big action sequences, the movie emphasizes the tension between the characters. It’s incredibly suspenseful because of its simplicity, letting strong acting and visuals keep the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.

The tension steadily increases throughout the movie, building to an exciting and dramatic final showdown. Every character gets a fitting resolution, and critics generally agree it’s a worthwhile thriller, as evidenced by its 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While the movie’s core idea could have been explored further, it remains a well-made crime thriller.

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2026-03-09 23:42