Prospective auto thieves, heed this warning. Should you find yourself breaking into a luxurious SUV only to be ensnared within by its vengeful proprietor, steer clear of answering the vehicle's ringing phone. Otherwise, you might miss out on the chilling pleasure of Anthony Hopkins's silkiest, most malevolently purring voice.
Eddie Barrish, a financially desperate and hapless criminal portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, finds himself on the receiving end of evil in this high-concept thriller. Perhaps it's karmic payback for his sinister roles as Pennywise and Count Orlok.
"Locked," an American remake of the acclaimed 2019 Argentinian thriller "4×4," revolves around a brainstorm conceived by a clever screenwriter over late-night libations. Our protagonist, a criminal with a conscience evident in his doting care for his young daughter (Ashley Cartwright), gets a taste of his own medicine when he selects the wrong ride to rob. Unbeknownst to him, it's been transformed into an unassailable wheel-bound instrument of torture. (Clearly, it's not a Tesla; the high-tech controls function flawlessly.)
By "unassailable," I mean from the inside. Eddie discovers that the doors and windows are securely locked, the SUV is soundproof, and the tinted windows obscure his desperate pleas for help. Not even a concerned young woman, who pauses only to apply her lipstick, notices his plight. The SUV is also bulletproof, as Eddie discovers to his agony when he fires a shot, only for the bullet to ricochet and wound him in the leg.
When the phone rings, displaying the words "Answer Me" on the console, a jittery Eddie initially refuses. But the persistent caller finally persuades him to pick up.
"Jolly good, welcome aboard," says the man on the other end, his silky accent betraying his Welsh origins. He introduces himself as William and explains his frustration after six break-ins with no arrests. He proceeds to torture Eddie with electric shocks from the car seats, unpredictable climate control, and, worst of all, deafening polka music—complete with yodeling.
The conversation, oh boy, there's plenty of it, takes a philosophical turn. Eddie, likening himself to the protagonist of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment," asks his tormentor if he's read it. When Eddie behaves, William rewards him with snacks dispensed from the glove box. When he doesn't, William takes control of the SUV, subjecting him to a wild, harrowing ride. Most irritatingly, he refers to Eddie as "old sport," as if he's overindulged in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Despite its artificial setup, "Locked," directed tautly by David Yarovesky (of "Brightburn" fame), maintains its absurd yet captivating premise throughout its mercifully brief runtime. Skarsgård's intensely committed performance as the physically and psychologically tortured criminal, coupled with Hopkins's unparalleled talent for portraying articulate, melodically menacing villains, certainly helps. Though we eventually glimpse William alongside Hopkins's voice, it's safe to assume the veteran actor relished the opportunity to essentially phone in much of his performance.
