Director David Yarovesky (The Hive, Brightburn) has an all new thriller coming to theaters called Locked. Written by Michael Arlen Ross (Turistas, Oracle), the film follows a down-on-his-luck man resorting to theft to make ends meet. After breaking into a luxury SUV, he finds himself trapped and at the mercy of the deranged car owner. Locked is an American remake of a 2019 Argentinian film titled 4×4. While I have not seen the source material, Locked seems to stand on its own with a stellar cast and updated automotive technology.

This mostly single-location thriller will likely exceed the expectations of many audience members. Yarovesky does a great job of creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in Locked, but what really makes the film compelling is the generational and class warfare Ross weaves throughout the script. Eddie, the film’s protagonist, isn’t necessarily a bad guy. He loves his daughter and is trying to win back his ex, but financial struggles are blocking him at every turn. Desperation leads to petty theft, which lands Eddie in an SUV that might just become his tomb. Once he’s trapped in the car, the disembodied voice of the car’s owner, William, comes through the speakers. The audience learns William’s car has been broken into multiple times with no one held accountable. In William’s eyes, poor people are a plague on society, all of them draining resources and not working hard enough to get out of poverty. It really is a war between the wealthy boomer generation versus the paycheck-to-paycheck millennial generation that is incredibly relevant to current socio-political issues.

Despite the difference between Eddie and William, Locked does seem to try to show the similarities between these two men. The audience gets to know Eddie before he enters the SUV, making him an endearing character despite his faults. It makes the audience care about his fate and want him to escape the horrible situation he’s in. When it comes to William, this character is introduced immediately as a true villain hellbent on torture. As the plot progresses, the filmmakers seem to try to shift William to a more sympathetic character, going deeper into his reasoning for creating such a sadistic trap. Yet his complete lack of empathy for others makes it impossible to connect with the character, despite the tragedies he’s experienced. It’s difficult to determine if the filmmakers were trying to make both characters fall into a moral grey area, but the final result leads one to believe William is a true psychopath. At times the cat and mouse game these characters play can be a tad repetitive, but the intrigue is hard to ignore.

At this point, horror fans know Bill Skarsgard (IT, Nosferatu) as he continues to deliver stellar performances time and time again. His portrayal of Eddie is no different. Even at his worst, it’s hard not to love this character. He’s relatable, struggling to earn money and be there for his family, while everything in his life seems to be working against him. Skarsgard gives a performance that is raw, emotional, chaotic, and even funny at times. While primarily voice acting as William, Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Thor) still manages to leave quite an impression. There’s a sophistication to his voice that betrays his social status and age, but what really makes Hopkins iconic is the undercurrent of glee to his voice as he remotely carries out all manner of torture on poor unsuspecting Eddie. Both Skarsgard and Hopkins are titans of film and icons of different generations, making them the perfect duo to bring these battling characters to life.

One way Locked sets itself apart is with the subtle artistry used throughout the film. Before Eddie ends up in the car, the class warfare is on full display. Scenes of unhoused encampments are intercut with affluent individuals complaining about the homeless. When the SUV first appears, there are hints to the car’s intended purpose. The make of the SUV is “Dolus.” This is a term from mythology that essentially means a type of fraud or deception, hinting to the car being a trap for would-be thieves. Taking this a step further is the emblem on the car, which depicts Lady Justice – justice supposedly being William’s reason for setting such a trap. For being a single-location film almost entirely inside an SUV, there is still a great sense of movement to Locked. Skarsgard frequently shifts around inside of the car, rarely staying in one place for long. The camera also weaves throughout the space, periodically utilizing exterior shots to show just how cut off Eddie is from the outside world.

Locked is a taut, single-location thriller that never loses momentum as it highlights the ever-widening generational and class divide. Yarovesky and Ross prove to be a good team, bringing this story to life in a layered, yet accessible way. Fans are sure to be delighted by Skarsgard’s performance and even more excited to have Hopkins giving such a deranged character his iconic voice. This is the kind of film that will keep audiences at the edge of their seat, when they aren’t squirming in it. You can catch Locked in theaters beginning Friday, March 21st.

OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10