Bill Skarsgård is proving to have the most varied and interesting career of the talented Skarsgård clan. Son of Stellan Skarsgård (Dune: Part Two) and brother of Alexander (The Northman) and Gustaf (Vikings) Skarsgård, Bill has continuously chosen projects that showcase his range and abilities. In Locked he takes on the difficult task of carrying an entire narrative with nothing to work against except the imposing voice of Anthony Hopkins. It’s an imposing challenge that Skarsgård concurs with ease, giving the greatest performance of his career.
The plot
Eddie (Skarsgård) is a down on his luck, deadbeat dad who survives each day by stealing and grifting any chance he gets. One afternoon he spots a luxury vehicle unattended in a mostly empty parking lot. He enters the vehicle, rummaging through it in search of valuables the way he’s done dozens of times before. Unlike those previous burglaries, this one is a trap set by scorned madman fed up thieves and determined to get his revenge.
Locked review
Bill Skarsgård is brilliant. It seriously can not be overstated how great his performance is. Though he’s best known for playing the demonic clown Pennywise in the It films, and recently tormented Lily-Rose Depth beneath an unrecognizable compound of makeup and prosthetics in Robert Eggers‘ Nosferatu, Skarsgård delivers some of his best work when he’s able to showcase his humanity.
Eddie is a character that wouldn’t elicit sympathy from most people if they encountered him on the street. He’s a thug. We learn very little about his past or what has led him to live the life he leads; instead, his greasy, strung-out appearance is used to craft his persona from the moment he appears on screen. But a tormented performance from Skarsgård, and a tight script by Michael Arlen Ross (Turistas), allow viewers to see beyond Eddie’s criminal acts and root for his survival.
Skarsgård brings a humanity and desperation to the role of Eddie that’s necessary for viewers to connect. A large part of his redemptive arcs stems from his role as a father and his devotion to his daughter. Equally, legendary actor Anthony Hopkins channels his most iconic role as Hannibal Lecter to deliver a powerfully menacing vocal performance. It’s astonishing that even in his late 80’s Hopkins is capable of captivating the screen solely through the use of his voice.
Locked will undoubtedly draw comparisons to 2002’s Phone Booth. The similarities are undeniable. In both films a man is confined to a small space, forced to answer for his wrongdoings at the direction of a homicidal man from a distance. The claustrophobic confines of the vehicle make for a surprisingly compelling setting. It’s been reinforced with darkly tinted bulletproof glass, unbreakable locks and a soundproof barrier. Escape is seemingly not an option and Eddie’s only hope for survival comes down to a battle of wits with the man on the phone.
The story never feels limited by its setting, and filmmaker David Yarovesky — who thrilled DC fans with his “evil Superman” movie Brightburn — makes the most of the confined story, finding creative hurdles for his unlikely protagonist to overcome. Modern technology is used smartly, with Hopkins’ William using it to his advantage without an over reliance on it.
Is Locked worth watching?
Locked is a riveting thriller with fantastic performances. Skarsgård delivers the greatest performance of his career and Hopkins proves that he still has the skills to hold audiences (and Skarsgård) captive. Films of this type are often divisive, and I suspect that Locked will be no different. Audiences have shorter and shorter attention spans and single setting stories can prove difficult for modern viewers. But Locked is compelling enough to cross that speed bump if given the chance. Buckle up and brace yourself, Locked is one hell of ride!
Locked hits theaters March 21st.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
