Locked In(2023) // A Psychological Puzzle with Sharp Edges
I don’t know if there’s a pandemic in Nigeria currently but people are surely catching the flu. I was one of them except I wasn’t diagnosed with sore throat and runny nose but I feel a little better now. Well while I was bedridden I saw this movie “Locked In”. It’s one of those films that plays mind games and keeps you guessing right up till the last few scenes. Plus, it’s a slow-burn thriller that doesn’t scream for attention but quietly messes with your head.
So, let’s talk about the plot without spoiling too much.
The story revolves around a mother and daughter(not biological), Katherine and Lina. Katherine ends up in a hospital, paralyzed and only able to communicate through blinking. The kind nurse turned detective that was assigned to care for her took it upon herself to piece together what happened and through flashbacks and intense character drama, we’re taken through a web of secrets, betrayal and a good dose of manipulation.
What’s cool or rather twisted about this film is how it plays with perception. Just when I thought I’d figured a character out, the film flips things and I’m like, “Wait, what? No, she didn’t, etc”
Lina, played by Rose Williams, gives this incredibly layered performance. She’s beautiful, I rooted for her but I also second-guessed my choice because I couldn’t believe she could get her hands dirty. Famke Janssen on the other hand, as the cold, manipulative Katherine? Perfectly unsettling. I couldn’t have asked for a better character.
What I liked most about the film is how intimate it felt. It isn’t flashy nor does it overdo; it’s more psychological than action-packed. But that’s what makes it effective. The tension is simmering, not explosive. Just think of it as peeling an onion, you get layer after layer of family dysfunction, jealousy, guilt and ultimately, survival instincts.
Now, it’s actually not without its flaws. Some parts felt a bit drawn out and the pacing dragged in the middle which almost bore me out. Anyway, if you’re into movies where you’re slowly uncovering truths alongside the characters, you should love this one as it delivers that eerie satisfaction.
Would I recommend it? Yeah. Especially if you’re in the mood for something moody and cerebral. It’s not a horror as they claim it to be. It’s also not exactly a thriller in the traditional sense, but it does crawl under your skin in a quiet, psychological way.
Rating? Well a 7.5/10 isn’t bad.
Katherine can only ever communicate via blinking? What a strange job that must have sounded like for the actress. I don't know if I have it in me to take another slow burn at the moment but I do like thrillers. I may check this out... not sure yet.
Strange but definitely not hectic. Lol. She just had to lie there and blink when a letter that fits the description of what happened to her is called out.
Unrelated but I’ve been having issues with the Peakd interface. It zooms in when I try to copy or paste a text(I still can’t copy a text anyway) the site also keeps shifting from one end to the other. I don’t know if it’s just me though.
none of that is happening to me as far as the interface is concerned. I do, however, get these strange things where the cursor will jump down a few lines like I had hit return 3-4 times, then it refuses to go back (if i backspace it jumps back) and basically I have to wait for a while for it to stop spazzing out.
as far as the blinking is concerned there are two other instances in films or series that I can think of where that happens. one is a film called "The Diving Bell" which is excellent and the other is when the guy in "Breaking Bad" has a stroke and the only way he can communicate is with a bell attached to his wheelchair. I'm sure you remember that one :)
Oh you're using a PC. I guess the interface favors PC users more than it does mobile phones users. At least I can copy a text now.
I’ve seen lots of films but these two don’t ring a bell. Did you do a review of either one?
Thanks anyway for bringing them up. I think I’m still in the mood for something with the same storyline.
The film is called "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and it is in French so you will have to read it. However, it is one of those hidden gem movies in my mind and no, I don't think I ever wrote a review of it but someone probably should. Maybe that person could be you. Despite the fact that almost nobody has seen this film it is ranked in the top 100 films since the year 2000
Title sounds like something magical. Thank you.
Hahaha. We’ll see how that goes.
oh and yes, I am using a PC with PeakD