Eddie (played by Bill Skarsgard) finds himself in a desperate situation: he's broke, his van is at the mechanic’s, and he’s estranged from his wife while facing the responsibility of picking up his daughter. After failing to get help from anyone he knows, Eddie resorts to petty theft—stealing wallets, buying lottery tickets, and attempting car break-ins. He then ends up inside an unlocked luxury SUV. Initially finding little of value, he soon realizes he’s trapped. After damaging the interior and injuring himself, Eddie foolishly pulls out a gun, only to discover the windows are bulletproof when the round ricochets back and hits him in the leg. Now without food or water and unable to get a signal on his phone, Eddie is at the mercy of William (Anthony Hopkins), who communicates via Bluetooth and derives pleasure from watching Eddie suffer, thanks to numerous cameras installed within the vehicle. I recall seeing an Argentinian crime thriller called 4x4 at Fantastic Fest in 2019. Since then, it’s been remade three times: a Brazilian version released in 2022 named *A Jaula*, a Telugu Indian remake also from 2022 titled *Dangalunnaru Jaagrathu*, and the American adaptation debuting in 2025 called *Locked*. *Locked* isn’t a straightforward remake. While it shares the initial premise of a thief getting trapped in a car, sustaining injuries, and descending into desperation—including actions like licking condensation and drinking urine for hydration—and features a doctor as an antagonist controlling much of the narrative, everything else diverges significantly. The core conflict in *4x4* stemmed from the disparity between a poor protagonist and a wealthy captor. Its conclusion felt fitting for both characters, offering neither a happy resolution because they hadn't earned one; each received a moment to shine before facing consequences. *Locked*, however, transforms William into a distant echo of John Kramer from *Saw*. He enjoys killing, but there’s also a reason he targets someone like Eddie. The American film attempts to elicit sympathy for Eddie despite his reprehensible behavior both before and during his imprisonment. His appearance—a gray jacket over a pink hoodie, bleached blonde tips on darker hair, an “Anger is a Gift” tattoo, vaping habits, and neglecting his daughter—makes him seem like a low-budget Pete Davidson combined with a less sympathetic Jesse Pinkman. William’s behavior is inconsistent; he initially uses polite phrases like "jolly good" and "old sport," but then abruptly switches to cursing. This might be connected to the health condition revealed in the film, though his apparent wealth seems to preclude a more composed approach to torture. What made *4x4* compelling was its focus on two irredeemable characters who had abandoned all hope of humanity and were consumed by violence and selfishness—a stark duality with no room for compromise. *Locked* tries to portray Eddie as a sympathetic figure, but his ordeal also results in an effect reminiscent of Amanda’s appreciation for life after surviving one of Jigsaw's traps. Beyond the basic necessities, William subjects Eddie to extreme temperatures while playing yodeling or classical music. The seats can even deliver electric shocks if Eddie swears or veers off on unwanted tangents. And the SUV can be remotely driven, leading to a chaotic ride around town. If you’ve seen *4x4*, *Locked* isn't a wholly original experience, but it does take unexpected turns. It feels like Steven Knight’s *Locke* had one of its violently pumping gears removed from Quentin Tarantino’s *Death Proof*. While *Locked* largely disregards what made *4x4* effective, the resulting psychological turmoil is still somewhat entertaining.

Source on TMDB