Review by Jon Donnis
Locked is a tense, stripped-back thriller that thrives almost entirely on the performances of its two leads. Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by Sam Raimi, it's a film that doesn't waste time with backstory or world-building. Instead, it dumps you straight into a desperate situation and dares you to look away. With Bill Skarsgård locked in a luxury SUV and Anthony Hopkins pulling the strings from afar, the film squeezes every ounce of tension from its simple premise. Whether or not it does enough to justify its feature-length runtime is another question.
Skarsgård plays Eddie Barrish, a down-on-his-luck father who makes one bad decision too many. His plan to rob a seemingly abandoned SUV spirals into a waking nightmare when the vehicle locks him inside. He soon learns it's all part of an elaborate trap designed by William, played with icy calculation by Hopkins. William, a terminally ill doctor turned vigilante, uses his wealth and technology to administer his own brand of justice, punishing petty criminals who cross his path.
The set-up is both intriguing and disturbing. The film rarely leaves the confines of the SUV, and Yarovesky leans into that claustrophobia hard. It's grimy and visceral, with a real-time feel that pushes the tension up as the hours tick by. Watching Eddie deteriorate physically and emotionally becomes the heart of the film, and Skarsgård does some remarkable work here. His expressions, body language, and increasingly frantic attempts to escape carry the weight of the story. Without his full commitment to the role, Locked wouldn't work. Hopkins, on the other hand, is more reserved, largely heard over the phone or through the car's speakers. But even in voice alone, he brings a chilling authority to the character, swinging between paternal calm and clinical menace with ease.
The dynamic between Eddie and William is what keeps things interesting. William sees himself as a righteous force, a man wronged by the world and determined to set it right by making others suffer. But the film never tries to romanticise his actions. If anything, Locked leaves you sitting in the discomfort of that moral grey area. Eddie's no saint, but William's sadistic game pushes the idea of justice to its breaking point. The script does well to let that ambiguity linger without spelling everything out.
Visually, the film is surprisingly engaging despite its limited space. The use of camera angles, lighting, and close-ups creates a sense of movement and emotional flux even when Eddie is stuck in one place. There's a brutal inventiveness to the way the car becomes a prison, a weapon, even a torture chamber. The sound design also deserves credit, every mechanical click, every blast of music or freezing air, feels deliberately placed to keep Eddie and the audience on edge.
Still, there's no denying the film struggles with pacing. At just 90 minutes, it should feel tight, but there are stretches where it drags. Some scenes overstay their welcome, and a few late attempts to ramp up the stakes feel forced. The novelty of the premise wears thin around the halfway point, and while Skarsgård does his best to keep things emotionally charged, you can feel the strain of the runtime on a concept that might have been better served in a shorter format. It doesn't derail the film, but it does dull some of the impact.
There are moments where the social commentary feels like it's reaching for something deeper, touching on class resentment, fatherhood, and the failure of systems. But it never quite digs far enough to leave a lasting impression. The film works best when it stays grounded in the raw, psychological standoff between its two characters.
Locked is at its most effective when it's just two voices battling for moral high ground across a wall of glass and steel. It's a nasty little thriller with a mean streak and just enough humanity to keep you invested. Without Skarsgård and Hopkins, there really wouldn't be much here. But with them, it holds together just enough to be worth the ride.
A generous 7 out of 10.
Out Now on
Apple TV - https://apple.co/3Zg7xiN
