Locked Down

Locked Down (2024) - Movie Review

Locked Down is a sharp, cleverly executed short film from RiffRaff NYC and Self-Tape Productions. Released in 2024, this mockumentary-style disaster film may be brief, but it packs a punch. As I watched, I couldn't help but wish it were a full-length feature, screening in IMAX, with me sinking into a recliner, popcorn in one hand, nachos in the other.

Directed by Marvin Avila and written by (and starring) Alexandra Andreoni, Locked Down follows an unlikely group of blind daters caught in the most bizarre of circumstances-a sudden quarantine due to a monkeypox outbreak. Leo Dunmore, played with understated humor by Joe Staton, is a health inspector whose dedication to his job overshadows his search for love. Alexandra Andreoni's Samantha and Annika Low's Jessica bring charm and wit to their roles as the two women vying for his attention. And then there's the bartender, played by Titus Tompkins, who unexpectedly becomes part of this odd group when they find themselves trapped in the bar with no way out.

As the days pass and supplies dwindle, the situation becomes more absurd, and the group teeters on the edge of madness. Despite the obvious constraints of budget and time, the film is impressively well-crafted, balancing humor and tension with ease.

From the opening scene to the final chaotic moments, I was thoroughly entertained. Locked Down may be about a quarantine, but it had me hooked from start to finish. It's a clever, engaging film that had me wishing for more-and isn't that the mark of great storytelling?