Official synopsis
A homeless man targets a well-off elite in a home invasion. But it will take an unhinged level of brutality to find out his true motive.
Review
I’m going to go light on my review of writer/director Tom Botchii’s sophomore feature Relentless (which screened as Syphon at FilmQuest) because it’s the type of pulse-pounding genre film that is most rewarding when viewers go in as cold as possible. It’s a thriller with violence and bloodshed enough to rival that in many a horror film, and it packs plenty of punch in the food-for-thought department as well.
Teddy (Jeffrey Decker) is a homeless man who lives in his car, listening repeatedly to a voice mail from his wife. He is obsessed with Junune Kushida (Shuhei Kinoshita), a man residing in a decidedly upscale residence. What seemingly starts as a home invasion thriller expands into a wider world as Kushida has no desire to be captured by this stranger.
Botchii invests Relentless with plenty of mystery and suspense, unfolding events and answers to questions in an expertly paced manner. He escalates the tension marvelously, with plenty of time to get to know both of these characters and their motivations. Suffice it to say that both men have secrets, along with deep-seated desires for revenge.
Decker and Kinoshita are both terrific in their roles, which require strong dramatic performances as well as demanding physical ones. The actors are up to both tasks.
With Relentless, Botchii delivers an often harrowing look at grief and desperation that also offers pathos. Steel yourself for some bloody brutality to go along with those qualities. Relentless comes recommended for genre-film fans of all stripes.
Relentless screened at FilmQuest, which took place October 23–November 1 in Provo, Utah.
Relentless, from Saban Films, will be available on Digital and On Demand on January 9, 2026.
