KSL Movie Show review: ‘Locked’ is insanity behind a fancy steering wheel

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SALT LAKE CITY — “Locked,” based on an Argentinian thriller “4×4” released in 2019, is a remake starring two pretty big heavy hitters, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Bill Skarsgård, in a story about one heck of a car, a down-on-his-luck petty thief and one sick-and-twisted old man who’s on death’s door.

Eddie Parrish (Skarsgård) is trying to get his beater car out of the repair shop, but he only has half the money owed. The shop owner, not known for his kindness, tells Eddie to get lost (in so many words) until he has the cash required.

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Eddie desperately needs his car back so he can pick up his young daughter Sarah (Ashley Cartwright) from school, which is part of his agreement with his estranged wife. No car, no pickup, big problem.

In comes the Dolus

Freaking out, he starts trying car doors on parked vehicles, just hoping some dummy left his car unlocked, in what looks like a pretty sketchy neighborhood. Fat chance? Not so fast.

He spots this high-end, super SUV called a Dolus just gleaming in a mostly-empty parking lot and decides, “what the heck?” He tries the door and it unbelievably opens. Hallelujah! Certainly there’s got to be something worth stealing in this fancy car so he can pawn whatever, pay the awful auto repair guy and still make it in time to pick up his kid at 2:15.

Again, not so fast. First off, the car is spotless, center console empty, nothing in the back seat or rear compartment – only a pair of decent-looking sunglasses. And that’s it!

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Dismayed, he tries to exit the vehicle. But it’s locked. He checks the other doors and rear hatch – all locked up tight. Panicking, he tries to kick out a window with no luck. He finds a tire iron in the back, bangs on the windows and doors – all solid as a rock.

He’s not going anywhere

And in one last ditch effort, he fires a bullet from his waistband gun only to have it ricochet off the glass and into his lower leg. So now his desperate efforts to free himself from this luxury prison have put his life in danger. He bleeds out until he passes out.

What in the heck is going on here?

When he awakens he realizes his wounds have been treated. Then a voice comes on from the control screen. The voice says he’s had it with the punks of the world, not earning their keep, leeching off the rest of society and is going to make an example out of poor, dumb Eddie.

At one point, the voice identifies himself as William (Anthony Hopkins) a doctor who is dying himself and is angry at the world.

In “Locked,” what does William really want from Eddie?

That’s where “Locked” gets a bit muddy and likely leads to the downfall of this story, as it’s never quite clear what is motivating William to be such a vengeful psychopath.

There’s no question, “Locked” is insanity behind a fancy steering wheel. Oh and wait until you see what else this crazy car can do, or what either man will do to survive this harrowing ordeal. It’s madness on so many levels – some good, some not so good.

“Locked” (C+) Rated R for strong violent content/bloody images, language throughout and brief drug use. Starring Bill Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins and Ashley Cartwright. Directed by David Yarovesky (“Brightburn” “Nightbooks”) – filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Running time: 95 minutes.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.