Piégé

David Yarovesky's Locked is a remake of the 2019 Argentinian film 4x4, and while the original was a claustrophobic and tense thriller with a pointed social commentary, this American version feels like a watered-down, Hollywoodized copy. Despite having Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins, the film's attempts at a high-concept battle of wits fall flat. The witty, dark humor and social critique of the original are replaced with generic and often preachy dialogue that feels shoehorned in. Skarsgård's performance, while energetic, is wasted on a character whose motivations are stripped of their nuance, turning him from a desperate father into a one-dimensional thug. Hopkins, as the disembodied voice of a self-righteous vigilante, delivers a performance that feels like a caricature of his more memorable roles. The film's attempts to escalate the stakes feel more ridiculous than suspenseful, and the ending, in particular, lacks the satisfying punch of its source material.

Is it worth watching? No. It's a pale imitation of a much better film, with a wasted cast and a clumsy script.

Locked tries to be an intense, claustrophobic survival thriller, but it never quite stands out in the genre. As a fan of these types of films, I appreciate when a simple, single-location premise can be turned into something tense and immersive. But Locked spends way too much time leaning on clichés without bringing anything new or truly engaging in the first half. The pacing drags, the narrative barely moves forward, and the attempts at suspense just don't land.

The second half is definitely an improvement-it picks up the intensity and has moments that actually manage to grab your attention. But even then, it never reaches a level where it feels memorable. The concept has potential, but the execution falls short, failing to dive deep into the psychological dynamics of the main character or create a truly suffocating atmosphere.

Bill Skarsgård, as always, delivers a solid performance, though this is far from his best work. He has the screen presence and charisma to carry a film almost entirely on his own, and he does a good job of selling the frustration and desperation of the situation. But the script doesn't give him much to work with, leaving his character too one-dimensional for his performance to truly shine.

One of the film's most interesting aspects is the car's design, which was adapted to function as the main setting. The way the space is utilized adds to the sense of confinement and gives the experience a layer of realism. That said, Locked could have tapped into something deeper-whether about the economy, modern society, or even humanity's relationship with technology. Instead, it settles for being a middle-of-the-road thriller, entertaining enough but lacking any real impact.

In the end, Locked is fine for a 90-minute distraction, but it's the kind of movie you'll probably forget as soon as the credits roll. It does the job, but it never pushes itself beyond just being "good enough."

A film about being trapped in a car? Ironically fitting, because watching Locked feels exactly like that-stuck, suffocating, and desperate for an escape.

Bill Skarsgård does his best with a script that insists on making him both a victim and an idiot, while Anthony Hopkins delivers lines with the air of a man who signed on for a better movie. What is he doing in this mediocrity of a film is honestly beyond me. The tension fizzles out early, leaving a predictable, boring, and frankly annoying ride to nowhere.

If you're after a claustrophobic thriller, watch Buried instead. At least that film knows how to keep you gasping for air.

My only advice for potential criminals who are reading this review is I would advise against breaking into a nice car lol. You will get locked in.

I caught the trailer and I was pretty hooked, went into this one open minded with zero expectation and it was a pleasant surprise.

Bill Skarsgård plays a really slimy character who at first I just wanted to see him suffer. But as the story progresses you start to feel for him, and start rooting for this guy.

Anthony Hopkins plays a narcissist rich man who is really sick and twisted. But you understand why he does certain things as you learn about his back story. His weapon of justice is a modified car that feels indestructible.

The suspense is great and I really liked the film's atmosphere and setting. There's never a dull moment and the pacing moves along really well. Twards the end I found Locked a little predictable but overall this is an enjoyable time at the theater. Go out and see it, at least watch it on vod when it comes out.

A man, sick and tired of people breaking into his car, traps the next thief and extend his torture for longer than necessary by making his own justice. A man willing and capable to do anything, and a youngster at the wrong place.

I wasn't expecting the sound design to be so crunchy, or for it to be as gore-y as it was. The setup isn't particularly memorable, and most of the dialogue isn't that good. I enjoyed Collateral (2004) much more than this for that simple reason. But it takes its premise and goes places with it.. but not enough to fill in 90 minutes. Sadly, there's a LOT of "empty space" and the pacing suffers a lot because of its content. The acting is good, but not great.

Overall, it's okay.

You understand what it is doing/saying, and you know where it is going to go (more or less). The sad part is that there is no particular reason to watch this.