Locked (2025) is a claustrophobic thriller, helmed by David Yarovesky, that reimagines Argentina’s 4×4 for an English-speaking audience. The film stars Bill Skarsgård as Eddie, a down-and-out carjacker who finds himself trapped in a technologically fortified SUV, while Anthony Hopkins voices William, the enigmatic vigilante orchestrating Eddie’s torment from afar.
Claustrophobia and Performance
The movie’s primary asset is its nerve-wracking atmosphere, created through careful lighting, sharp editing, and inventive camera work that amplifies the sense of entrapment. Skarsgård delivers a visceral, raw performance, convincingly cycling through panic, anger, and resignation as Eddie is physically and psychologically tortured. His portrayal anchors the film’s emotional journey and sustains tension even when the script wavers.
Hopkins, serving mostly as a menacing voice, injects gravitas with minimal screen time. His sinister, measured delivery transforms the car’s speakers into a source of dread. When Hopkins finally appears on screen, it’s a chilling reminder of his prowess, despite William being written as more vindictive than complex.
Story, Themes, and Shortcomings
Locked sets out as a morality play, pitting two deeply unsympathetic characters against each other. The film hints at potent themes—vigilante justice, moral collapse, class friction—but struggles to commit to any pointed commentary. Instead, it leans into repeated acts of torture and confrontations, sometimes substituting shock for substance.
The narrative momentum sags mid-film, with unresolved ambiguity over William’s motivations. His grief-fueled turn to violence following his daughter’s murder and terminal illness slices away at potential empathy, leaving the audience mostly to root for Eddie’s survival. When the car finally moves and the story escapes its initial setting, narrative focus dissipates, and the conclusion lands with less impact than intended.
Visuals, Direction, and Reception
Yarovesky keeps the tension taut with tight framing and clever use of space, turning the SUV into a dramatic arena. The film’s production quality—especially lighting and sound—never falters, helping sustain a sense of unease from start to finish.
Critical reception has been mixed. Locked is praised for its strong performances and psychological tension, but faulted for not fully delivering on its high-concept promise. Several reviewers cite its one-watch appeal, noting the film’s reluctance to dig deeper into its social or moral quandaries.
Final Verdict
Locked is a stylish, unsettling thriller that thrives on its performances and claustrophobic setup. While technically proficient and emotionally charged, it settles for surface-level commentary and fizzles in the final stretch. Fans of the single-location thriller or Skarsgård’s intense acting will find enough here for an engaging viewing, but the film’s larger ambitions remain just out of reach.