M3GAN 2.0 (2025) Film Review

Two years after M3GAN’s rampage, her creator, Gemma, resorts to resurrecting her infamous creation in order to take down Amelia, the military-grade weapon who was built by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN’s underlying tech.

M3GAN 2.0 is directed by Gerard Johnstone director of Housebound (2014) and M3GAN (2022). M3GAN 2.0 is a serves as a sequel to M3GAN (2022).

M3GAN 2.0 is one of those sequels where they go in a completely different direction genre wise, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just something you have to make sure you execute it well, where as the first film was a campy horror movie that I actually quite like (I am not as high on it as I was back when it first released but still a solid movie.) M3GAN 2.0 is an action sci-fi film that goes for this Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) type of feel, which although the movie mostly lands there are some glaring issues.

The performances are fine enough, with the exception of Jenna Davis who once again does a really great job as the voice of M3GAN. Plus Ivanna Sakhno does great as AMELIA although the lines she is given are a bit basic she makes them work quite well, the action scenes involving Sakhno work mainly due to AMELIA as a character actually being quite interesting and fun. M3GAN as a character gets some nice development here, there’s this light theme of redemption going on here which I do think is actually some of the movie’s best moments. There’s some decent dialogue between M3GAN and Gemma (played by Allison Williams), it’s not anything special but it is admittedly quite fun.

Allison Williams and Violet McGraw unfortunately aren’t as good here as they were in the previous film and I honestly can’t exactly pinpoint why, maybe it’s because their characters worked a lot better in a traditional horror film or they never really match up to the chaos the script is asking for. Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps are given a lot more to do this time around, it’s nice to see them more involved but this still does not push their characters in the interesting territory. They fill their roles fine enough but that’s really where it ends.

As I said before this movie goes for a completely different direction from the first movie, if you loved the horror and the tension from the first movie you are going to be incredibly disappointed with this one. Because the horror just isn’t here with the tension being nonexistent, instead we have an action sci-fi film that has very light horror elements. The action scenes are actually pretty fun, there is not anything super impressive here but the fun factor is there. It’s quite neat to see M3GAN and AMELIA fight and I do like the use of the environments while these action scenes are occurring. The choreography is also quite well done which also helps these action scenes stand on their legs.

The writing is a mixed bag, while there is some commentary about AI it’s very surface level. The character writing unfortunately really does not go anywhere (M3GAN is the only one who actually gets some real meat from the writing) and the jokes are the definition of a hit or miss type of situation. There’s some jokes that I found decently funny while others just make you roll your eyes, there’s a lot of ideas that are interesting such as the commentary on AI and the theme of redemption. But they are done in this very surface level way that you ultimately forget about by the end.

Finally there’s the pacing combined with the runtime, this is one of those cases where you can really feel that the movie is dragging out and unfortunately it ends up costing the movie, which is a shame because I do think for the most part it’s a fun little ride.

Despite my problems with M3GAN 2.0 I do not think it’s necessarily a terrible movie, there’s a lot of fun to be had here and I do think M3GAN is a fun character. This is just a sequel that is a step down from the previous movie and not something that I think I will ever revisit, if you like action sci-fi movies you may like this one.

M3GAN 2.0 is currently in theaters.

6/10 C+

Ballerina (2025) Film Review

Trained in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma, Eve Macarro takes on an army of killers as she seeks revenge against those responsible for the death of her father.

Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman director of Underworld (2003), Underworld: Evolution (2006), Live Free or Die Hard (2007) and Total Recall (2012). Ballerina is the fifth installment in the John Wick franchise, the film takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).

The John Wick franchise has proven to be quite a strong series of films, you always know what you are going to get with these films and they always deliver. Ballerina does not really do anything new in terms of world building or character writing (outside of Eve Macarro of course) but the film still manages to bring the atmosphere, action and electrifying energy of the franchise.

Ana de Armas fits perfectly in the world of the franchise, there’s some scenes (mostly at the beginning) that heavily rely on her performance and due to her fitting so well and her ability to have this fury behind her eyes they work. She’s able to connect with Eve Macarro very quickly of course the action filled moments are fantastic which Armas did most of her own stunts, but the character moments are also quite well done. There is not anything groundbreaking going on here with the character moments, but they still have just enough power and this dark atmospheric energy that makes them interesting. Armas’s performance alone keeps these moments afloat and ends up fully connecting with the film’s universe.

The rest of the performances are great, although there is not a whole lot to the characters it’s still quite neat to see them involved. Keanu Reeves is of course great to see as John Wick and Norman Reedus is quite fun for the short amount of time he is in the film. The late Lance Reddick also makes his final appearance in the franchise which is admittedly very sad to see (even if it’s a very brief appearance.)

The action scenes combined with the cinematography are absolutely well done, as I said before Ana de Armas did mostly her own stunts which is quite impressive given the action scenes that are in this film. The film’s use of a flamethrower is both jaw dropping but also quite suspenseful as well, it adds to the action filled chaos of the third act which keeps up the momentum of what the other films of the franchise brought with their third acts. The fight choreography is just as great as well, it’s up close and you feel the impact and movement of the camera. It’s fast editing combined with the film’s typical brutal action makes for some quite exciting scenes that truly do deliver and never fail to keep the viewer entertained.

Finally there’s the writing, while there is not anything new going on here. That does not make the film bad, the first act is admittedly a bit on the rough side at times. However the film quickly picks up and becomes a very entertaining ride from beginning to end. The character writing for Eve Macarro is strong enough to keep the film going and the atmosphere is able to do a lot of the talking during certain moments.

If you are a fan of the John Wick series you will love Ballerina it’s an incredibly fun film that knows what it wants to be and accomplishes that quite well!

Ballerina is currently in theaters!

9/10 A

Tribeca Review: Tow (2025)

The true story of Amanda Ogle (Byrne), a homeless Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and car after receiving a tow bill for $21,634.

Tow is directed by Stephanie Laing director of Irreplaceable You (2018) and Family Squares (2022).

This was the first film I saw at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it was by far the best. While there are some writing bits that are a miss, Tow tells the true story of Amanda Ogle a homeless Seattle woman and tells it quite well. I knew absolutely nothing about the true story and after watching the film I’m quite glad it was told.

The performances are really the main sell here, Rose Byrne as Amanda Ogle is a very well done performance that has the balance of comedy and the much more serious moments. It helps quite a lot that Rose Byrne is already an incredibly talented actress as well as a very humorous one, so she fits like a glove here, she captures Amanda Ogle’s actions of never giving up and not letting societal systems take her down. That’s where a lot of the inspiring feel of the film comes from and remains that way throughout the film, Byrne’s interactions with the rest of the cast quite great as well.

Dominic Sessa is also quite fantastic here, he’s much more comedic but that does not stop him from giving a genuinely great performance. His banter with Rose Byrne is genuinely entertaining, even when the dialogue is a bit bumpy at times he manages to make it into a hilarious moment. Octavia Spencer is being the powerhouse actress she is also gives a solid performance and much like Sessa has some great moments with Byrne. Demi Lovato is a bit on the miscast side of things but she’s not bad.

The film is very much an underdog story and it’s a quite beautifully told one, the theme of not letting societal systems take you down when you are fighting is quite inspiring and it’s very well told here. The writing mixes this theme with some comedy as well, some of the comedy is a bit of a miss at times with some moments feeling a bit forced. However for the most part the humor works and is able to balance itself with the dramatic moments, plus I do think the talented cast are able to take some moments that would otherwise not be so great and turn them into something solid.

It helps the film that Amanda Ogle is incredibly fleshed out as a character which makes her story all the more impactful and devastating to the viewer, there are some feel good cliches here but there are not enough to completely take away from this film. There are several moments where you are rooting for Amanda and want to see her get justice, people may scoff at $273 towing fee but to Amanda her car is her home which she fights for and never gives up.

Overall Tow is a really solid film that’s quite inspiring, between great performances, strong direction and a mostly solid balance of comedy and drama there’s a lot to really appreciate about the film. This is definitely one to look out for when it releases.

Tow currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Predator: Killer Of Killers (2025) Film Review

A Viking raider, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a World War II pilot encounter a fierce intergalactic hunter.

Predator: Killer Of Killers is directed by Dan Trachtenberg director of 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and Prey (2022). Predator: Killer Of Killers is the sixth film and the eighth installment of the Predator franchise.

After Prey (2022) was released with large amounts of praise, there was no doubt that there would be another Predator film, first they announced Predator: Badlands which releases later this year in November. Predator Killer Of Killers was a secret film that Trachtenberg was working on and the film further shows that Trachtenberg is doing truly creative and exciting things with the Predator franchise.

The first thing you will notice is how beautifully animated the film really is, I could go on for hours of how wonderfully done each and every scene really is. The amount of attention to detail helps build each and every scene, the characters are expressive and finally we have action scenes which in a lot of ways do have this Saturday morning cartoon feel but not in a bad way. The action scenes do such a great job of moving this film along at such a nice pace that compliments the atmosphere which manage to be dark, fun and tense at the same time.

The characters are simple yet effective, there is not any groundbreaking character writing here. But that ultimately does not hurt the film since the characters work just fine on their own. Ursa, Kenji and John J. Torres all get their own segment which ultimately leads up the final segment of the film. Their stories are admittedly a bit of the same in terms of what exactly happens (which is why I chose not to talk about each segment individually), with that being said it is simply very neat to see the predator travel through different periods of time and combine that with some really strong action scenes. Plus there are some genuine moments here where you do want to see the main three character’s loved ones survive.

The final segment is especially really strong, a giant colosseum battle that is so pleasing to watch. The buildup the film has been setting up pays off incredibly well and goes all out, it helps that we also got some pretty effective world building that I do hope we get to see in future films. There is a lot going on during this giant battle that is filled to the brim with fun character moments, the predators speaking in their native language and of course more beautifully done scenes thanks to the animation.

Overall Predator: Killer Of Killers is a lot of fun and one of the best installments of the franchise, it is filled to the brim with creativity even when some segments result in the same outcome that ultimately does not hurt the film as the film is beautifully made, written and executed.

Predator: Killer Of Killers is available on Hulu!

9/10 A

Tribeca Film Review: In Cold Light (2025)

Ava attempts to go straight after prison, but her twin is murdered and being a witness to the shooting, she is forced to run for her life.

Tribeca Review

In Cold Light is directed by Maxime Giroux director of Tomorrow (2008), Jo for Jonathan (2010), Felix and Meira (2014), The Great Darkened Days (2018), Norbourg (2022) and Plan B (2023).

I wish there was a lot to comment on and discuss here but unfortunately that isn’t the case with In Cold Light. It’s by no means a bad movie as the positives do help the movie stand on its legs, but a lot of the films elements just didn’t quite mesh well together in the end which ultimately stops it from being better than it could have.

The performances are the main reason to give this one a shot, Maika Monroe gives such a raw performance that quickly grabs your attention. I know that Monroe is often praised for horror performances and has become a scream queen, but in this film she shows that she can tackle dramatic roles just as well, the atmosphere compliments this well as often times the film feels like Ava’s (played by Maika Monroe) nightmare. It’s genuinely eerie at times and Monroe’s acting really displays this front and center, there’s some powerful moments that Monroe is able to nail down just because of how great of an actress she really is.

Troy Kotsur is also quite excellent, a drastic genre switch from his last performance which was CODA (2021) he delivers once again, much like Monroe he gives a raw performance. The father and daughter bond is quite grounded and very touching, there’s one particular moment here that makes clever use with the camera and the background. That scene alone really builds Kotsur’s character Will in this clever and quiet way. It’s a shame Kotsur takes a backseat towards the end of the film, because whenever Kotsur and Monroe are on screen together those end up being some of the films best moments.

The cinematography from Sarah Mishara is stylized and works pretty well especially with the nightmarish atmosphere the film is going for, although the nightmarish feel does not last throughout the whole movie. It’s just enough to give the film a somewhat unique feel, the score from Philippe Brault is electrifying and gets the viewer invested. It’s a bit of a surprise at first since it can feel a bit out of place, however once you figure out the type of atmosphere the film is going for it starts to make more sense.

What stops In Cold Light from being great comes down to is mainly the whole drug empire sections. While not bad, as I said before the movie really does not do anything differently than other films with the same sort of plot. The family aspect is what holds the film together mostly which is why it’s a bit of a shame that it’s put in the backseat towards the end. Although I will say the final five minutes are actually quite powerful and does leave an impression on you.

Overall In Cold Light mainly works do to the performances from Monroe and Kotsur, there’s some nice thrills to have here and the film itself is quite well made. There’s just a lot missing when it comes to the script and the film’s focus.

In Cold Light currently has no release date.

6/10 C+

Best Wishes To All (2025) Film Review

A college student visits her grandparents in the countryside. She is happy to see them but begins to feel a sense of discomfort as she uncovers dark secrets. It seems that there is something in the house.

Best Wishes To All is directed by Yûta Shimotsu which is his directorial debut.

Best Wishes To All is a strange one, there’s a lot that happens with seemingly very little explanation (in both a good and bad way.) I admire that the themes the film attempts tackle such as economical and society implications as well as happiness being limited at the expense of others. The way the film goes about exploring these themes while interesting does not always mesh together.

The performances are solid, Kotone Furukawa is definitely the standout, she brings this captivating performance to the table that the viewer immediately connects with as we travel this strange town the film takes place in. Everyone else does a really good job here, especially when it comes to the more humorous moments. All the actors are able to quickly switch in tone when the atmosphere and story demands it.

Speaking of which the atmosphere is effectively done, it’s able to capture the darkly humorous and the serious tone both at the same time, there are some moments of this genuine dread and then certain moments where you find yourself laughing. It’s this strange blend that surprisingly works in the film’s favor.

The themes it tackles while admirable, don’t fully come together for one particular reason. It’s mainly due to the film becoming weird for the sake of being weird, I get what they were trying to go for by executing themes of happiness at others expense or capitalism in a much more unique way. But when you have your character’s bizarre behavior feel less and less organic as the movie goes on it does start to take you out of the film, these weird moments make for some great moments by themselves but not when they are trying to add commentary.

Despite its issues I do think Best Wishes To All is a decent time, if you are looking for a strange movie that has solid acting and atmosphere I recommend giving this one a shot!

Best Wishes To All is available on Shudder!

6/10 C+

Thunderbolts (2025) Film Review

Ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker — embarks on a dangerous mission that forces them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

Thunderbolts is directed by Jake Schreier director of Robot & Frank (2012) and Paper Towns (2015). Thunderbolts is the 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

To say Thunderbolts is a breath of fresh air for the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be a huge understatement, a lot of the flaws to some of the more recent installments of the universe are not present here. Instead we get a lot of genuinely beautiful moments mixed with the film tackling some themes that might not exactly be groundbreaking in execution but the way the film goes about executing them is quite great. Combine that with some really strong acting, action scenes and engaging dialogue and you have yourself one of the best installments to the MCU in quite a while.

The performances are all fantastic across the board, everyone here gets a chance to shine even when some have very limited time on screening. Florence Pugh is one of the major standouts, she carries a lot of the dramatic weight of the film and puts so much passion and power into Yelena as a character. The character moments we get from her is quite beautiful and even heartbreaking at times, there are moments here that actually make the viewer tear up a bit, Pugh is a powerhouse actress as I’ve said in the past and here is no exception. She’s able to really build this whole different look to Yelena that are different from her past appearances while also complimenting them as well, Pugh is also able to have this wonderful balance between her dramatic moments and her comedic ones. The humor is actually quite hilarious here so Pugh is able to take advantage of it and work her magic, lastly the action scenes with Pugh are fantastic and always a treat to watch due to how committed she really is.

Lewis Pullman who plays Bob or Sentry/Void is the other major standout, he delivers this complex and sympathetic character who is constantly at war with himself. At first he may not seem like much but as the film goes on we see the character building in action which quickly pushes Pullman to one of the film’s best assets, this where the theme of mental health kicks in and it is very well integrated into Bob’s character arc. There’s one particular moment that is a highlights this incredibly well, Pullman just overall gives a fantastic performance that is truly beautifully done. Much like Pugh, he’s able to have this balance of dramatic and comedic moments. The timing is especially well done and his facial acting combined with his character clearly struggling gets the viewer more and more invested as it goes on.

Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen and David Harbour are all quite great, they all work incredibly well together. The banter between them is fun and the team chemistry is filled to the brim with charm, even if some get more bigger moments than others you still are invested in these characters. All of their personalities all blend together very nicely and have this genuine connection, it helps that the writing actually does help build these characters.

Speaking of which the script from Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo is truly fascinating here, not only is it a very fun time with humor that is genuinely fun. But there is a lot of dramatic moments that help push these characters, these moments help build them into something the viewer can connect with and there’s a lot of successful moments like these throughout the film. The theme of mental health although not exactly groundbreaking (as I said before) still feels like it’s coming from a place of honesty and shows what people can go through when they are at war with themselves (obviously in a more comic book way with giant voids but you get the point.)

The action scenes are incredibly well done, they are very well detailed the stunt team seriously knocks it out of the park here with quite honestly some of the best we have seen from the MCU. The cinematography from cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo is beautifully done, pays a lot of attention detail and has this large in scale feel that really captures the world of the film. It is the epic massive beast of a picture that is striking and lets the viewer look around at many given opportunities.

Overall Thunderbolts is a huge step in the right direction for the MCU, the film has a lot of the spirit of what made the Guardians Of The Galaxy films so great and even does it’s own thing as well. Even apart from the MCU (the film does not really have any easter eggs) the film is still fantastic and is just an overall excellent film that is both fun and filled to the brim with heart.

Thunderbolts is currently in theaters

10/10 A+

Echo Valley (2025) Film Review

Kate’s secluded life is interrupted by her troubled daughter when she shows up frightened and covered in someone’s blood. As Kate unravels the truth, she learns how far she’ll go for her child.

Echo Valley is directed by Michael Pearce director of Beast (2017) and Encounter (2021).

Echo Valley is one of those films where there really is just not a whole lot to discuss, it’s a prime example of a thriller that might have worked much better (and might have even performed okay) back in the 90s. But it’s straight to streaming so here we are, despite that the movie is not terrible as it does have some really strong performances and there’s some thrills here. There is just not a whole lot going on here when it comes to the script.

The performances are what mostly save this movie from being weaker, Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney and the rest of the cast such as Domhnall Gleeson give such strong performances. Moore really does a fantastic job at playing a grieving partner while also being a desperate mother she’s able to jump from one to the other quite masterfully and is able to throw in this power element into them both. It’s a strong performance that helps lead this film to the finish line even when the script is a bit generic, Moore is able to make certain scenes all the more powerful.

Sydney Sweeney plays an out of control and manipulative daughter, Sweeney once again shows a more dramatic role and much like in Reality (2023) she knocks it out of the park. There’s some really strong scenes that Moore and Sweeney share throughout the film that are some of the best moments, the mother-daughter element was solid even if it was on the more predictable side of things. Sweeney also does a really good job of capturing the atmosphere the film is going for which is this gloomy and depressing feel, she’s able to take that and show it through her performance.

While the writing is not necessarily bad, as I said before there’s just really not a whole lot going on here. There’s a lot of predictable plot points and it does not help the movie feels like a bit of a slog to get through. The third act although still a bit predictable does manage to pick the movie up a bit and manages to bring some energy to the film.

Ultimately what hurts Echo Valley is there is just not anything new here and not a lot going on, strong performances can only do so much with a script that really lacks depth and does not really go into its themes and great detail. It’s a shame because there was a decent amount of potential, but a lot is just missing here.

Echo Valley is definitely not the worst thriller out there but it’s one that is stuck in the middle of the road, it’s only thanks to the performances from Moore and Sweeney that this one is at least a bit more memorable than others.

Echo Valley is available on Apple TV+

5/10 C

Tribeca Film Review: How To Train Your Dragon (2025)

On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

Tribeca Review

How To Train Your Dragon is directed by Dean DeBlois director of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy and Lilo & Stitch (2002) along with Chris Sanders.

The How To Train Your Dragon films are incredible and are a prime example of a series that really focused on introducing new elements with each installment and figuring out ways to get better and better. Each one has something unique to them which truly makes them special and well remembered. To say that a live action film for the first film is an odd choice would be understatement, even though the clear reason as to why is money. Despite that however this one manages to be one of the far better live action remakes and I really have to attribute that to DeBlois being in the director’s chair because he did quite a splendid job here.

The performances work very well, Mason Thames does a great job as Hiccup. He had a lot to carry on his shoulders but he manages to really put his own energy into the character, he’s not trying to do an impression of Jay Baruchel. He’s doing his own thing while also being faithful to what makes Hiccup such a great character. The bond between him and Toothless is something the film is able to capture quite well and really does bring a smile on your face, it’s mainly thanks to Thames’s performance that really holds these memorable moments together.

Nico Parker as Astrid is quite great, much of what I said about Thames making Hiccup his own can be applied here with Parker making Astrid her own. It helps that the chemistry between the two is genuinely adorable and their acting bounces off of each other very well. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick and much like in the original film does really well, the father-son dynamic is strong and translates well. Nick Frost as Gobbet is different yet it’s welcome, he actually does have some genuinely funny lines here that worked.

When it comes to a technical aspect the film is excellent, the cinematography is genuinely beautiful and the film is undeniably very well made. Combined with the location you do get this sense of adventure and wonder that the original film had and that’s felt throughout film. This is something that a lot of other live action remakes tend to miss so it is refreshing to see one of these films actually look beautiful as well as managing to capture the spirit of the source material, some might say “that’s the bare minimum they should all be doing that” and that is not necessarily wrong but seeing how a majority of them have completely opted to not do that I say this is kind of shocking,

With all of that being said at the end of the day this is very much a shot for shot live action remake with small differences in between. Even though it’s a faithful one and admittedly a pretty well directed one, it does not really do anything that the original film did not do. The original film is far and away a better film simply because the emotional impact is far more present in that film than it is here, while there are touching moments here that can get the viewer to connect with these characters all over again. Seeing the same film again but in live action does not quite strike up the emotional impact.

Overall How To Train Your Dragon is still a fun time, if you liked the original film you will probably get a lot out of this one. Just don’t go in expecting anything different because you will not get that here. This is a film I will probably never go back to, but I would be lying if I said I did not have a decent time with this one.

How To Train Your Dragon releases tomorrow in theaters.

7/10 B

Tribeca Film Review: Relay (2025)

A broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive.

Relay is directed by David Mackenzie director of The Last Great Wilderness (2002), Perfect Sense (2011), Hell Or High Water (2016), Outlaw King (2018) and many others.

Relay is has the misfortune of being one of those films where you have two incredibly solid acts and then completely fumble the ball with the third act. Despite that however I do not think this is a bad movie, that’s mainly due to the performances and the first two acts being that strong.

Riz Ahmed once again knocks it out of the park, he has very limited dialogue during the first bit of the film but slowly but surely opens up more and more. He gives such a great performance that really displays how talented he is as an actor, his body language during his silent portions are enough to really bring you towards his character Tom/Ash. His speaking portions are just as great and are effective with one of the themes the film tackles loneliness, while it could have been tackled a bit harder I do think that the film does a great job of incorporating it into the story and it helps develop Tom/Ash as a character. It helps that Ahmed is a powerhouse actor and can easily bring this feeling of loneliness to the viewer.

Lily James is also quite great in fact this is definitely one of her most striking performances, you can see the fear in her character Sarah Grant’s eyes as well as the suspense. Lily James also brings this natural performance into the mix that helps make the atmosphere all the more thrilling, she’s able to capture this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s that the film is going for quite well. She’s a natural fit that does often lead to some quite suspenseful scenes, there really is not much in the way of character development for Sarah but Lily James’s performance alone is more than enough to make up for it and keep things interesting.

Sam Worthington and Willa Fitzgerald are also fun, not a whole lot about their characters is really explored but there really did not need to be. Worthington arguing with the relay operator humorous bits that admittedly did get some laughs out of me.

As I said earlier the film is going for this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s, which for the first two acts the film excels at doing so. Each and every scene you can feel the thrilling atmosphere creeping on you, combined with the acting these make for some very tense scenes that quickly get under the viewer’s skin. It helps that the score of the film is quite strong as well and really matches the atmospheric feel the film is going for.

Unfortunately when the third act rolls around that’s when the film quickly falls and never gets back up, what was once a thrilling ride that moved at a nice and easy pace becomes a much more action focused and not very well explained or throughout out plot twists that completely take away from the film. The action segments feel very out of place compared to the rest of the film, the plot twists completely take away a lot of what made the first two acts so great and the writing feels like it was written by a completely different person. It’s a bizarre choice that ultimately costs the film.

Overall Relay is still a decent film thanks to the performances by Riz Ahmed and Lily James who make it worthwhile as well as the atmosphere. But it’s such a frustrating experience that really makes you wish that the third act matched the well written and thrilling nature of the first two acts.

Relay releases August 22nd in theaters

6/10 C+