Rent on Apple TV and Prime Video
In 2003, the late filmmaker Joel Schumacher made a little movie called Phone Booth: an engaging thriller about a vigilante who traps an unsuspecting petty crook in a phone booth on a busy city street. Under threat of death by sniper rifle, the petty crook is forced to confess his sins and make the effort to emerge from his situation with the willingness to do better for himself and others. It is one of the best examples of elegance in simplicity. It uses a single location with only a handful of players to convey a compelling story about redemption, justice, and second chances.
Since that fantastic work of cinema, many filmmakers and production companies have tried to emulate or recreate that successful formula with mixed results: slasher films like ATM and survival thrillers like All is Lost come to mind.
Today's subject, Locked, is a film that attempts to present a "modern" retelling of the same concept while attempting to comment on issues like economic disparity and rigged social structures. The result is a thriller that earns many points for its efforts, but doesn't quite capture the same victorious feeling as its predecessor. Although it did make me feel for the protagonist, I might have preferred if there was a little more creative direction for the antagonist other than what was ultimately presented.
The story follows a down-on-his-luck street-smart petty thief named Eddie (Bill Skarsgård) who is trying to get his car back so he can maintain his job and see his little girl again. With no alternatives to speak of, and despite his efforts to go clean, he returns to his old habits of petty theft. While scoping out a local parking lot, he stumbles upon a nice-looking SUV parked right in the middle of the lot that looks like easy pickings. However, once he enters the car, he can't get out! Suddenly, Eddie finds himself in a fight for his life as he tries to escape his unexpected confinement while being taunted and tortured by the mysterious voice controlling the car (Anthony Hopkins) and determining the reasons behind his false imprisonment. What will it take for Eddie to escape with his life?
The general concept, performances, and presentation are solid for the most part. Skarsgård shows his range and talent, proving his ability to carry a movie on his shoulders, while Hopkins, though still maintaining his startling screen presence, doesn't do anything we haven't seen from him many times over. Yes, he plays his roles well, but let's face it, the man hasn't been able to escape the shadow of Hannibal Lecter throughout the remainder of his career since Silence of the Lambs.
Also, while the script is admirable in commenting on things like class and economic disparity, redemption, and personal responsibility, the film loses many of its talking points by delivering a typical by-the-numbers psychopathic antagonist seen in every kind of movie like this, rather than something with a little more effort behind it.
I did not make the comparisons to Phone Booth lightly! Part of the reason that film was so memorable was that the antagonist, while likely insane to some degree, did his actions with more or less noble intentions: to get his victims to admit their faults, confess their crimes, make amends, and do better in the future. Also, we never really learn what drives the antagonist to do what he does, thereby maintaining a sense of mystery and otherworldliness to his presence. We understand what he's doing even though we don't understand why.
Meanwhile, the antagonist in Locked is a typical troubled-man-brought-to-madness-through-tragic-circumstances routine seen in every attempt to "elevate" a slasher villain. While this does make for a terrifying force, it does not make for a compelling narrative, even though the film wants so badly for that to happen.
Locked is an okay film for what it is. While it has a compelling concept with decent performances, it's a little too pretentious and cliché for its own good. If you are the least bit curious, give it a look. Otherwise, go watch Phone Booth instead.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment