When a thief breaks into a luxury SUV, he steps into a deadly trap set by a self-proclaimed vigilante delivering his own brand of twisted justice. With no means of escape, he must fight to survive in a ride where escape is an illusion, survival is a nightmare, and justice shifts into high gear. A film by David Yarovesky, starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins.

At the auto repair shop, Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgård) desperately tries to convince owner Karl (Michael Eklund) to repair his broken delivery van. Karl remains unmoved, pointing out that Eddie has only paid $350, leaving him $475 short for the necessary alternator replacement.

Despite Eddie’s pleas and promises to pay the remainder later, explaining he needs the van for his deliveries, Karl firmly refuses. He makes it clear that without the full payment upfront, there will be no repairs and nothing further to discuss.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Eddie receives a call from his daughter Sarah (Ashley Cartwright), but he decides to ignore it, feeling like a disappointment to her. However, Eddie answers when his estranged ex-wife Amy (Gabrielle Walsh) calls. Amy immediately scolds Eddie for failing to pick up Sarah at school as promised.

Later, Eddie spots a luxury SUV, a black DOLUS, parked in a public lot. He casually circles the vehicle, attempting to peer through the windows, but the dark tint makes it impossible to see inside. When the parking lot clears of people, Eddie seizes the opportunity and discovers the car is unlocked. He quickly slips into the driver’s seat and closes the door behind him.

Hoping to find something valuable to sell for his van repair money, Eddie rummages through the vehicle but comes away disappointed, finding only a pair of seemingly expensive sunglasses.

Disappointed, Eddie yanks on the door handle to leave, but it won’t budge. Assuming it’s just stuck, he slides over to try the passenger side, but that door won’t open either. Panic rising, he clambers into the backseat and tugs desperately at each handle, discovering he’s somehow locked inside. Frustration turns to alarm as Eddie slams his elbow against the window and kicks repeatedly at the glass, but the windows hold firm without even a crack.

Eddie frantically pushes every button he can find, but nothing works. Suddenly the dashboard screen lights up with an incoming call notification. Panicking, he ignores it and continues searching for a way out. Eventually, he discovers a tire iron in a compartment and desperately smashes it against the rear window several times. To his horror, the window remains completely intact, not even a scratch showing where he struck.

Eddie successfully yanks a door panel open. As he reaches inside, his arm gets cut and starts bleeding. Once the panel is completely removed, Eddie stares in horror as he discovers that the door’s interior is made from welded iron. He tries to make a call with his phone, but there’s no signal. With no other options left, Eddie finally gives in and accepts the incoming call by tapping the dashboard screen. A mysterious male voice emanates from the car’s speakers, introducing himself as William (Anthony Hopkins), the owner of the car.

William explains his car has been broken into six times with the police never making an arrest. Eddie makes number seven. Though William speaks calmly, saying he just wants to talk, Eddie grows increasingly desperate and demands to be released. When William ignores him, Eddie pulls a gun from his backpack and fires at the window. The bullet ricochets off the glass and tears into his own leg. Through his pain, Eddie spots a woman (Sofia Tes) stopping beside the car to apply lipstick in the window’s reflection. He pounds on the glass and screams for help, but the soundproof barrier ensures she hears nothing as she casually finishes her makeup and walks away.

As Eddie bleeds from the bullet wound in his leg, William explains that the walls and glass are bulletproof, and he’s jammed all cellular, Bluetooth, and WiFi signals, ensuring no one inside can communicate with the outside world. William gradually reveals himself to be a vigilante who delivers his own brand of justice, unleashing a series of tortures upon Eddie, whom he considers nothing but a scumbag.

Directed by American filmmaker David Yarovesky from a screenplay by Michael Arlen Ross, LOCKED is a gripping crime thriller remake of Mariano Cohn’s 2019 Argentinian film 4×4.

The premise hooks you immediately, with Bill Skarsgård delivering a remarkable performance that showcases his impressive emotional range. He carries nearly the entire film alone on screen, interacting primarily with Anthony Hopkins’ chilling voice through the car’s speakers and microphone.

While the final act veers into bonkers territory requiring viewers to suspend their disbelief that such a car would have a kill switch capable of shutting down its entire system, the film remains thoroughly entertaining and memorable. Though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Joel Schumacher’s 2002 thriller Phone Booth starring Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland, LOCKED delivers its own brand of claustrophobic tension that keeps us invested until the end.

LOCKED was theatrically released in the United States on 21 March 2025, by The Avenue.