Hopkins and Skarsgård Clash in High-Stakes Duel

Read Time:4 Minute, 38 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Locked
–

Genre: Horror, Thriller
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director(s): David Yarovesky
Writer(s): Michael Arlen Ross
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi, Sofia Tesema, Emma Kombe
Where To Watch: in select theaters March 21, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: LOCKED takes the tension of a thriller and cranks it up inside the unlikeliest of arenas—a luxury SUV (a “2024 Dolus” was specifically designed and built for the film for $1.3 million. Based on the Land Rover Defender, only two were made – one for the interior shots and one for the stunt driving sequences.) What starts as a seemingly routine car theft quickly spirals into a fight for survival as Eddie, played by Bill Skarsgård, finds himself at the mercy of William, a self-proclaimed vigilante brought to life by Anthony Hopkins. Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by Sam Raimi, the film traps audiences in a tightly wound battle of wits and wills, transforming a confined space into a psychological battlefield where the difference between justice and cruelty is razor-thin.

Eddie’s introduction makes him a criminal, but LOCKED refuses to settle for surface-level characterization. Skarsgård injects intrigue into the role, making Eddie not just a thief but a man forced to reckon with past decisions in the most brutal way imaginable. His performance teeters between desperation and resilience, ensuring that even as he fights for survival, there’s an undercurrent of self-awareness about how he ended up in this predicament. On the other hand, Hopkins delivers the kind of performance that reminds audiences why he remains one of his generation's most compelling screen presences. William plays with his prey’s mental well-being and is cold, methodical, and calm. Their dynamic turns the SUV into a pressure cooker, with every interaction laced with tension.

The script by Michael Arlen Ross thrives on sharp, calculated dialogue that keeps the film moving while deepening the psychological layers at play. Conversations between Eddie and William are more than simple exchanges—they are power struggles, with words acting as weapons just as much as physical force. The film doesn’t spoon-feed morality to the audience but instead forces them to sit with uneasy questions about justice, vengeance, and who ultimately has the right to determine someone else’s fate.

Yarovesky’s direction embraces the story's claustrophobia, ensuring the audience feels trapped alongside Eddie. The tight framing and limited perspective enhance the sense of helplessness, ensuring that every moment spent inside the vehicle is dripping with anxiety. The film crafts suspense by maximizing every inch of the SUV’s space. It’s a masterclass in making a small setting feel overwhelmingly large in stakes.

The cinematography, led by Michael Dallatorre, reinforces the psychological intensity. The lighting choices—stark contrasts between the harsh interior and the ominous darkness outside—mirror the shifting power dynamics between Eddie and William. Close-up shots become a visual language, capturing the shifts in expressions that reveal more than any line of dialogue ever could. Every camera movement contributes to the mounting tension, ensuring the visuals never become stale despite the single-location setup.

LOCKED reimagines the foundation of the 2019 Argentinian film 4×4, injecting the core premise with a different cultural perspective. While it follows familiar steps seen in other confined-space thrillers, it manages to carve out its identity through its performances and depth. The psychological chess match between the two leads recalls some of the most memorable cat-and-mouse showdowns in thriller history, making it as much a battle of ideologies as a fight for survival.

The film delivers where it counts, never losing sight of its goal of keeping audiences in suspense. Its combination of strong performances, sharp dialogue, and direction ensures that it leaves an impact. The film doesn’t just rely on its premise to carry the story—it fully commits to wringing every ounce of tension from it.

LOCKED doesn’t need grandiose set pieces or sprawling locations to craft a thriller that holds you from start to finish. It proves that, with the right approach, a single location can feel just as expansive as an open battlefield. It crafts a nerve-wracking experience that lingers well after the credits roll through its calculated performances, meticulous cinematography, and unrelenting tension.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching Overly Honest Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of THE AVENUE]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices, regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.