Complete with a tight script and strong performances, Locked is a satisfying yet sadistic thrill ride that will keep you glued to your seat from the first minute down to the last.
In Locked, street hustler-slash-thief Eddie (Bill Skarsgård, Boy Kills World) is down on his luck, especially with being unable to get any money. One day, Eddie stumbles upon a fancy, high-end car. However, as he attempts to break in and steal it, Eddie soon finds himself locked in and at the mercy of the car’s owner, William (Anthony Hopkins, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver). Now trapped in the car, Eddie must search for a way out. All the while, Eddie must endure William’s sadistic torture and games.
Locked Is No Way Out
With Locked, director David Yarovesky (Nightbooks) creates an entertaining yet relentless and contained remake of the 2019 Argentinian film “4×4.” Yet, the film keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Working from a script by screenwriter Michael Arlen Ross, Yarovesky supplies the movie with a catastrophic feel. While a part of that is due to the film’s setting, Yarovesky maintains that feeling by exploring the characters (or character Eddie in this case) and his survival. Therefore, it gives the audience an intimate feel for the character.
Additionally, Yarovesky and director of photography Michael Dallatorre (Perimeter) made the cinematography engaging. In particular, Dallatorre employs a circular motion in certain shots. Thus, allowing the audience to get sucked into that catastrophic feeling. Moreover, production designer Grant Armstrong (Silent Night) crafted the design with a dark and gritty aesthetic. Echoing the real world, Armstrong juxtaposes it with the Dolos car’s design, a high-end vehicle complete with high-end features. The juxtaposition is also present in the costume design, courtesy of costume designer Autumn Steed’s (Nightbooks) display of the state of the world the characters inhabit. As a result, giving the audience a backdrop to work off of.
Score and Editing
Likewise, the score by composer Tim Williams (Your Monster) contributes to the dark, gritty, and claustrophobic aesthetic. Using an orchestral and pulse-pounding sound, Williams conducts the score with a sense of urgency. He relies primarily on strings and violins, amplifying the tension in the scene. Consecutively, it allows for amplification of the sound as well. Thereby trapping the audience in the car with Eddie.
The same goes for the editing. Editors Andrew Buckland (A Complete Unknown) and Peter Gvodas (The Boogeyman) bring the film in at an hour and thirty-two minutes. With that in place, the two use the run time by keeping the pace consistent with the momentum. Plus, when the momentum slowed, an element of character development was formed. On top of that, Buckland and Gvodas construct the passage of time seamlessly. Thus, it never feels out of place or rushed. Instead, both of them draw out the scenes at the maximum length. Yet they manage to make it consistent with the film’s length.
Performances in Locked
When it comes to the cast, it’s a two-fer. Led by Bill Skarasgård (Boy Kills World, The Crow) and Anthony Hopkins (Those Who Are Willing to Die) as Eddie and William, respectively. As Eddie, Skarsgård yields a compelling performance, balancing likeability with desperation. We also see Skarasgård sell his character’s desperation exceptionally well. As for Hopkins, he delivers a standout performance, balancing both being fun and manic at times.
Additionally, Hopkins also uses the character’s charm to become sadistic. This while also only having a presence through voice-over. Lastly, rounding out the cast is Ashley Cartwright as Sarah, Eddie’s estranged daughter. Both Cartwright and Skarasgård have decent but effective chemistry with each other.
Final Thoughts
On Locked, director David Yarovesky (Brightborn) and company created a sadistic yet satisfying thrill ride from beginning to end. In remaking the Argentinian film “4×4“, Yardousky maintains a claustrophobic feel to the film. This is clear in everything from the script to the cinematography to the editing. Furthermore, Yarovesky and company also manage to deliver a dark and gritty aesthetic on top of the claustrophobia. Finally, rounding out everything are two strong performances from Skarasgård and Hopkins. Locked is one film that will keep you glued to your seat until the credits roll.
