It can be hard to fight the power of big corporations, even when they’re in the wrong. They have the money and resources to intimidate potential witnesses into silence or worse. That’s the world into which we’re thrown with Relay, a new thriller that released on Friday.

The film comes from David Mackenzie, the director of Hell or High Water. And it drops viewers into another high-stakes tale of greed and violence.

The film focuses on Ash (Riz Ahmed), a fixer who works in the shadows. He takes clients who have a problem with a big corporation and brokers a deal, one that ensures their safety and protection. But he does it all anonymously, using the Tri-State Relay system and burners to keep in touch with clients and the corporations that are hunting them.

He has a detailed and secure system. It’s one that’s meant to keep him safe, help hold these people accountable, and secure a future for his clients. He operates under a very specific set of rules and he’s willing to walk away if anyone won’t follow the program.

Soon, he’s paired with a new client, Sarah (Lily James). She’s being terrorized by another group of fixers led by Dawson (Sam Worthington) because of what she knows. Her former company is about to launch a product with serious side effects. Sarah has the report, which she took to potentially blow the whistle. But now, she just wants the nightmare to end.

Ash takes on her case and begins to do his work. But Sarah is different. She begins to work on Ash who feels himself compelled to bend the rules to help her and get close to her. But can he bring a successful resolution to her case before they both get exposed?

This is an engrossing and original idea. That’s a credit to the script from Justin Piasecki, who builds some engaging characters and some great twists into the story. Mackenzie brings it to life in an engaging way, too. The tension in the shot sequences—especially in the third act—help keep you hooked to the end.

The production is paired well with a great lead in Ahmed. In fact, we don’t even hear him give a line of dialogue for the first chunk of the film. He does a lot to establish his character and build the world through non-verbal performance. He continues this throughout he run of the film, making his character incredibly compelling despite few lines.

I also enjoyed the supporting cast. James does a nice job in her role, building the relationship with Ash despite them not even speaking directly. I also liked the team hunting Sarah and Ash, particularly Worthington as the driven and ruthless leader.

Relay was a pleasant surprise. It opened at Tribeca a few months ago but was a film I hadn’t heard much about. And yet, I enjoyed the ride quite a bit. Ahmed is good and the story feels compelling. This is worth checking out in theaters when it opens.

Relay opens in theaters on Friday, August 22.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.