‘Locked’ (2025) Review – Hopkins & Skarsgård Do Battle In A Locked-Car Thriller

The doors are locked, and the car is under someone else’s control. Bill Skarsgård is fighting for his life against an unhinged doctor played by the legendary Anthony Hopkins. The movie is a simple premise involving a thief locked inside after attempting to steal a car. Locked offers little reinvention as a high-stakes thriller but does have some great chewing between two legendary actors. A story within the story suggests a more extensive social commentary at play. The movie never spins this yarn to its full potential; instead, it prefers to resolve to convention. This, at points, feels unfulfilling but is nevertheless an entertaining ride!

At the start of Locked, we meet Eddie (Bill Skarsgård), a down-on-his-luck deadbeat Dad. He struggles to pay for a van repair and is in hock to many people. He even tries his hand at some lottery scratchers. Running on empty and desperate, Eddie tries breaking into cars to steal quick cash but fails to find an unlocked vehicle. When it appears his luck has run out, Eddie stumbles upon a state-of-the-art luxury SUV that is unlocked. However, Eddie picks the wrong car. Unable to exit, he finds himself at the mercy of William (Anthony Hopkins), the vehicle owner, who speaks to him through a voice call and plans to give him his lesson in crime and punishment. 

The car is wired and complete with bullet-proof and sound-proof windows. It becomes a prison on wheels, with a psychotic William tormenting Eddie to make a point. At first, his lessons are mundane, such as blasting polka music, but he soon ups the stakes. William controls the temperature in the car and forces Eddie to go hungry and thirsty. All the while, he subjects him to electrified shocks when he disobeys. 

Hopkins proves he is one of the greats and why his roles as sadistic and calculating villains are part of his wheelhouse. We rarely see him but for the climax. However, his voice is a presence, radiating throughout the car, tormenting and mocking Skarsgård as a petty thief and dreg in society. The fact that much of Hopkin’s performance is voice-over makes his role as compelling and essential as Skarsgård.

Skarsgård himself plays a different type in the film—no villainous makeup or monstrous wardrobe. His low man-on-the-totem vibe is endearing, particularly as his fight becomes more than personal survival—it’s survival to see his daughter again. 

Skarsgård holds his own against Hopkins. He trades verbal jousts back and forth as the two engage in a mental battle of philosophy. Both get a handful of punchy lines, though perhaps Hopkins picks off the litter regarding memorable lines. His character denigrates Eddie as a pariah and emblematic of what is wrong with modern society — thus the reason for his lesson. When Eddie rebuffs his sadistic machinations and begs to be let free, William, in a Mr. Rogers-esque plea, asks him: “What is the magic word?” 

Only Hopkins and his silver tongue could make such a phrase delightfully droll and ominous. 

As noted, there is a story within the story involving a debate over philosophy. The characters loosely discuss the tenets of crime and punishment. Unfortunately, the movie never breathes enough to deliver a strong enough take. The social commentary is intriguing but nothing more than surface-level. Locked becomes more committed to the car hijinks and Hopkins’s unhinged performance. There is a bit of overindulgence in the controlled car trope, and at points, the situation takes on a Home Alone flair when it comes to Skarsgård and his torture.  

Sometimes, this film feels like a call back to Hopkins’s feature Fracture. While there are no locked cars, he does enjoy sadistic mind games opposite Ryan Gosling in that particular film; a similar feat tried here, though, without the same pop and circumstance. 

However, while the film stalls at points, it never completely breaks down. Locked keeps the audience interested thanks to the strength of the performances and the adrenaline rush that hits the accelerator from start to finish. 

Locked will debut in theaters on March 21, 2025, courtesy of The Avenue.