I went into Locked knowing basically nothing. No trailer, no marketing, not even a single TikTok edit of Bill Skarsgård looking broody and mysterious (which seems like a missed opportunity, honestly). I just saw his name, saw the premise—car thief gets stuck in a high-tech SUV—and figured, “Yeah, I’ll bite.”
And you know what? I’m glad I did.
This is one of those one-location thrillers that could have gone very, very wrong. I sometimes get nervous about these types of films because if the pacing isn’t just right, you’re stuck watching someone monologue to themselves for two hours, wondering if you should’ve just stayed home and watched YouTube instead. But Locked avoids that trap. Not only does it keep things moving, but it somehow makes the car itself feel like a character. You’re not just watching a guy struggle in a confined space; you’re watching a battle of wills between man and machine.
If I had to compare it to something, I’d say it reminded me a bit of Her—not in tone, but in the way it relies so heavily on a single actor’s performance, with a disembodied voice playing a key role. A lot of Locked is just Bill Skarsgård reacting to his increasingly dire situation, and thankfully, he’s more than up for the task. The man can hold an audience’s attention.
The story itself is simple: Skarsgård’s character, Eddie, breaks into a luxury SUV, intending to steal it. Except, surprise! The car isn’t just locked; it’s a full-blown prison, thanks to its mysterious owner. What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse, except the “mouse” is literally locked in a metal box with no way out. And while I initially worried the film might run out of steam, it never drags. It’s lean, well-paced, and keeps you just uncomfortable enough to stay fully invested.
Speaking of discomfort, if you’re even a little claustrophobic, Locked is going to get under your skin. The way it plays with space, making the car feel both massive and suffocating at the same time, is masterfully done. At times, I felt like I was trapped in there with him. (Which, side note: The fact that this movie made me feel anxious about sitting in my perfectly normal, very much escapable car? Impressive.)
The sheer number of production company logos that flashed before the movie started had me bewildered from the start. I swear, there were at least ten of them, none of which I’d ever heard of. It was like a mini film festival before the actual film. But hey, if that’s what it took to get this made, I won’t complain too much.
So, should you see Locked? If you like tight, well-executed thrillers, or if you just want to watch Bill Skarsgård give another A+ performance, then yes. As for streaming, it’s still in theaters as of now, but if I had to guess, it’ll probably land on streaming platform(s) sometime this summer. Keep an eye out.
Final verdict? Locked is part Her, part extended luxury car commercial, and fully worth your time. Skarsgård carries it like a pro, and the movie never overstays its welcome. Just maybe don’t watch it if you’re planning to sit in a parked car afterward.
VERDICT
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