Locked gets off to a shaky start, not only as the shaky camera pans across various locations in a city, but also as the film introduces its central conflict. Eddie Barish (Bill Skarsgård) is a young man seeking money to fix his van for work. Willing to do whatever it takes to get it repaired, he breaks into a ficтιтious Dolus car, only to get trapped inside the high-end vehicle. A call on the car’s screen from its owner, William (Anthony Hopkins), explains he’s had trouble with carjackers in the past, and Eddie is now his hapless victim.
Sam Raimi also serves as a producer on Locked.
What follows is William’s attempts to psychologically break Eddie, using him as a springboard for a deeper level of anger inside him. This results in a somewhat goofy but quick-paced revenge story that, while starting off rather dull, slowly builds into a wilder thrill ride thanks to director David Yarovesky and writer Michael Arlen Ross. While it’s not up there as one of Hopkins’ or Skarsgård’s best movies, Locked has some interesting elements that can hold viewers’ attention, even when permeated by some flaws throughout the story.
Locked Trips At The Starting Gate But Finds Its Footing Later
Its First Impression Slowly Fades As The Film Progresses
At first, Locked doesn’t feel like the action thriller movie it’s billed as, with a quirky tone that feels more akin to a dark comedy. This continues even as the initial premise gets introduced, but with a presentation that appears at odds with how the movie truly wants to make us feel. There’s a menacing undertone to the story unfolding, yet it’s initially shrouded by tinges of humor that don’t feel intentional. It makes the setup goofy, despite how seriously the premise is portrayed through sweeping cinematography and serious performances from its stars.
However, the movie eventually finds its footing and hits a stride in its storytelling, crafting an interesting narrative surrounding Eddie and William’s points of view. While it’s not one of Hopkins’ best villain performances, it somewhat evokes tinges of The Silence of the Lambs‘ Hannibal Lecter because of his characters’ intelligence. This is made all the more entertaining because of how unpredictable events become, offering a compelling presentation that makes the most out of primarily taking place inside a single vehicle.
As the film becomes more intense, the crescendo of events drowns out the struggle it found itself in at the very beginning. While there’s still a suspension of disbelief necessary for some of its bigger, admittedly goofier, moments, the movie’s straightforward approach elevates the entertainment value of its story progression. Even when it feels like unbelievable events are happening, the film finds a way to keep events fast-paced and engaging. It does wear down in a few notable places, but for the most part, it remains a captivating ride throughout.
Skarsgård & Hopkins’ Characters Leave Something To Be Desired
They Aren’t As Developed As They Could Be
The only real sticking point about the film is that, despite standout portrayals from both Skarsgård and Hopkins, neither of their characters are more compelling than a surface-level glance. While attempts are made to make them feel like two sides of the same coin, the characters are tied to themes that don’t have much meat on their bones. They’re contrasted admirably, and Skarsgård’s Eddie is even endearing in some ways. But, ultimately, their development isn’t as strong as it could have been for such a gripping premise.
Even so, Locked offers a fun, occasionally absurd, action thriller story that delivers on the promise of its premise. It may offer a flawed first impression, but what follows is a generally entertaining story held together by wild events and strong performances. Despite lacking the same polish as many other movies the two leads have been in before, it’s still a thrilling rollercoaster that offers plenty of twists and turns, making for a generally interesting addition to both actors’ careers.
