Relentless (2026) Review: A Grudge Match Stretched Thin

This Relentless review starts with a simple question: can a small, mean home invasion thriller hold your attention for 93 minutes? Writer-director Tom Botchii Skowronski gives it a decent try, built on mystery, brutality and two game lead actors. The result is uneven but has enough grit to interest genre fans.

The film is an American action thriller, released on January 9, 2026, and rated R.

Relentless Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Relentless plot begins with Teddy Brimsval, a homeless man consumed by a need for revenge. He picks out a well-off target and breaks into the home. The film holds back his reasons and lets them surface slowly.

On the other side is Jun Kushida, an elite cyber security analyst. Once the two men cross paths, the story tips into what the official synopsis calls blood-splattered chaos. The tagline, "You can't hide behind your keyboard," hints at the theme: online anonymity against real-world consequences.

The film also screened at FilmQuest under the title Syphon. It is Skowronski's second feature, and the small scale shows from the first scenes.

What Works in Relentless

The best thing here is the mystery. Some critics praise how the film doles out information and answers, keeping the suspense alive through a tight running time. You keep watching because you want to know why Teddy has chosen this victim.

The brutality is another strength. The violence is blunt and ugly rather than slick, which suits a story about a grudge. This is a thriller that wants you to feel the damage.

The film also makes a lot out of little. One reviewer noted that Skowronski squeezes everything he can from a modest budget. A mostly contained setup keeps costs down and the tension close.

Fans of tough, low-budget action movie reviews will recognise that scrappy energy.

Relentless Cast and Performances

The Relentless cast is small and led by two actors who carry nearly everything.

• Jeffrey Decker plays Teddy Brimsval, the homeless intruder driven by revenge.

• Shuhei Kinoshita plays Jun Kushida, the cyber security analyst.

• Matt Stuertz appears as the Gas Station Attendant, with Jackie Kelly, Jerry L. Buxbaum and Molly Maloney in smaller roles.

Decker and Kinoshita get praise in the reviews I found as the film's sturdy foundation. Their scenes together give the movie its pulse, and the story leans on their chemistry as opponents. The supporting players have little screen time, so the film rests on the leads.

Where Relentless Stumbles

Tone is the main problem. Warped Perspective gave the film a C-, saying Skowronski seems unsure of the exact tone and direction, so it feels more like an unfinished concept than a developed thriller. That complaint is fair when the film shifts between mystery, revenge story and brutal chase.

Rogers Movie Nation was harsher, arguing that it opens in uninteresting mystery and strains to become a revenge thriller "about something." Even viewers who like the ideas may feel the themes are announced more than explored.

Critical reception is mixed. Only a handful of critic reviews are listed on Rotten Tomatoes, and scores include 2.5/5 and 3/5. The budget limits also show in the thin supporting characters.

Is Relentless Worth Watching?

Relentless is worth watching if you enjoy lean, violent revenge thrillers and can forgive rough edges. It is not a polished genre breakthrough, but it is short, tense in stretches and anchored by committed lead work.

If you want a layered, fully developed story, you may be let down. If you want a grim, fast-moving thriller with a mystery at its center, it delivers enough to justify a rental or a late-night watch. Directed by Tom Botchii Skowronski, it shows a filmmaker with ideas and ambition who is still sharpening his focus.

For a comparable revenge story, see our take on Droga Donikad, a bleak wasteland revenge odyssey.

Who Will Enjoy Relentless

• Fans of low-budget home invasion and revenge thrillers who like their violence raw.

• Viewers who enjoy slow-reveal mysteries and two-hander performances.

• Indie genre enthusiasts curious about Tom Botchii Skowronski's work.