My quick rating – 6.2/10. Locked is a tense, stripped-down psychological thriller that leans heavily on its performances to drive a simple yet chilling premise. An American remake of the 2019 Argentinian film 4×4, this remake swaps out Buenos Aires grit for glossy U.S. polish, but retains the intimate, claustrophobic atmosphere that made the concept so effective in the first place.
The film kicks off with a brief but effective look into Eddie’s world. Played by Bill Skarsgård, Eddie is a small-time crook with a complicated past. In just a few opening moments, we’re given just enough character depth to make us question whether he’s a villain, a victim, or maybe a bit of both. When he breaks into a seemingly unoccupied luxury SUV, he unwittingly triggers a trap. The vehicle locks down, and Eddie becomes the unwilling subject of a twisted social experiment orchestrated by its owner, William (Anthony Hopkins).
From there, Locked becomes a taut, two-man show, mostly confined to the inside of the SUV. Skarsgård delivers a compelling, at times desperate performance as Eddie. His frustration, confusion, and eventual descent into survival mode are deeply convincing, and his physicality within the cramped space really sells the increasing helplessness. Opposite him, Anthony Hopkins does what Anthony Hopkins does best: quietly dominates. Though mostly a voice through the car’s speaker system for much of the runtime, Hopkins brings a chilling sense of calm control to William, a man who believes he is delivering justice through psychological torment.
The bulk of the film escalates through verbal sparring, as William toys with Eddie through moral lectures and menacing manipulations. The dynamic shifts as the torture becomes more methodical and brutal—deprivation, sensory overload, and emotional warfare. When the two finally come face-to-face, it’s a satisfying (if somewhat expected) climax. It caps off a narrative that was more about mental breakdowns than big-budget set pieces.
It’s important to note that Locked isn’t action-heavy. This is a survival thriller of the Buried or Phone Booth variety. It is an isolated character study more interested in psychological tension than physical spectacle. Director David Yarovesky (of Brightburn fame) keeps the tension steady and claustrophobic, though the film never quite transcends its core concept. Some moments feel derivative, and the morality play at its center doesn’t probe as deeply as it could.
What ultimately keeps Locked afloat is the strength of its two leads. Without Skarsgård’s emotionally raw performance and Hopkins’ magnetic menace, this would’ve likely landed as a forgettable thriller. As it stands, it’s a solid genre entry with a strong cast, a clear (if blunt) message about justice and redemption, and a grim sense of inevitability.
Locked doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it spins with enough tension and talent to make the ride worthwhile, especially if you’re a fan of tightly contained thrillers. Just don’t go in expecting explosions and chase scenes. This is psychological warfare on four wheels.