From director David Yarovesky and producer Sam Raimi comes “Locked”, a tightly wound high-concept action thriller that brings together the hardworking Bill Skarsgård and the effortlessly great Anthony Hopkins. “Locked” is an English-language remake of Mariano Cohn’s 2019 Argentinian film “4×4”. It was filmed and is set in Vancouver, Canada which adds a vivid urbanized texture while playing a big part in the storytelling.

Skarsgård plays Eddie Barrish, a down on his luck petty thief whose bad choices put him in a perilous predicament. Eddie is broke, unable to muster the $475 needed to get his beat-up van out of the garage. So he resorts to snatching wallets, buying scratch-offs, and breaking into cars. To make matters worse, he’s in hot water with his ex-wife for routinely standing up his young daughter, Sarah (Ashley Cartwright).

While cutting through a near vacant backstreet parking lot, Eddie notices a fancy black SUV appropriately branded “Dolus”. He checks the door and finds it unlocked. Jumping in unnoticed, he immediately begins rummaging for anything to sell but finds nothing. When he tries to get out, he discovers the doors are locked. He attempts kicking out the glass but to no avail. He learns all cell signal is blocked and its soundproof so he can’t scream for help. After several more vain attempts at escaping, Eddie realizes he’s trapped.

As Eddie panics over his sudden predicament, the vehicle’s phone rings. On the other end is an elderly man who introduces himself as William (Hopkins). The two engage in a hostile back-and-forth in which William exercises his dominance. He watches his trapped prey through six embedded cameras, shocking Eddie with the electrified interior whenever he gets out of line. William even resorts to torturing Eddie with heat, cold, and (in a darkly comical turn) blaring polka music.

Why is William doing this? Well it’s best you find out on your own. But it’s all a sick game built upon his sociopathic sense of justice. As William and Eddie continue their tête-à-têtes, we learn more about each of them – their pasts, their circumstances, and in some instances their motivations. A few arguments feel a bit fabricated, such as one conversation that quickly evolves into on-the-nose political commentary. But most build towards the film’s harrowing final act which is set in motion once the the sleek high-tech SUV hits the streets.

While there’s no denying the ultimate absurdity of the premise, “Locked” rides along on the firm commitment of Skarsgård and Hopkins. The duo does everything they can to keep the story driving forward even as the movie struggles to fill its lean 95 minutes. And while its midsection lulls bog things down a bit, there’s just enough meat on the bones of this gritty genre two-hander to hold your interest. “Locked” hits theaters March 21st.

VERDICT – 3 STARS