The Stream: Haven’t we seen this movie already?!?

The Big Screen: Bill Skarsgard and Anthony Hopkins play off each other well.

The Final Bill: This thriller is too predictable to be exciting.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: David Yarovesky
Writers: Michael Arlen Ross based on the film 4 x 4
Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, Ashley Cartwright
Genre: Thriller
Rating: R for strong violent content/bloody images, language throughout, and brief drug use
Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes
Production Companies: BondIt Media Capital, Boxo Productions, Longevity Pictures, Raimi Productions, ZQ Entertainment, Pink Flamingos Films
Platform: In theaters March 21, 2025
Notable Trailers: Sinners, Drop, Ballerina, The Shrouds

Alright, Streamers! It seems like every weekend in March we are scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to see in the theaters. One of those new releases was Locked, which is like that movie Phone Booth with Colin Farrell where he’s trapped in a phone booth on the telephone with a killer. Remember that? Well, in Locked, Bill Skarsgard plays a guy who breaks into a luxury SUV and gets trapped in it and terrorized by the vehicle’s owner, who is voiced by Anthony Hopkins. Claustrophobic hijinks ensue.

Locked is an interesting movie in theory, but pretty meh in actuality. Wouldn’t you want to teach the ruffian who broke into your car a lesson? Of course, but it doesn’t sustain a 90-minute movie. However, the movie wastes very little time getting started. Skarsgard is trapped in the car in the first ten-fifteen minutes. After that, the action pretty much plateaus until the final third of the film. I can’t say it’s boring, but it is very talky for a thriller. The protagonist does some very dumb and infuriatingly nonsensical moves while the antagonist is pretty one note. There is tension inherent in this plot, but it didn’t really grab me – which is a bummer.

Now, I will say that Bill Skarsgard is very good. It’s a pretty physical performance for someone trapped in a vehicle. There’s compelling characterization and he attempts to tug at your heartstrings, but the movie isn’t really interested in that. I think Skarsgard gives the exact punch that the movie needs. Also, Hopkins is pretty good despite the fact that his character is cliched and predictable. It’s always good to hear the voice of Dr. Lecter threatening someone over the phone.

Ultimately, Locked is just another okay movie to add to the trapped-in-a-confined-space, thriller genre. While Bill Skarsgard and Anthony Hopkins do what they can to add some energy to this movie, they can’t overcome the predictable plot and overall meh-ness of this thriller. It’s gets off to a quick start but stalls until the final third. Wait with a handful of popcorn for this one to get to streaming.