By just reading the premise, Locke may sound like a slow paced (dare I say boring) film; watching a man in a car for an hour and a half isn’t the most blood-pumping concept for a thriller. But don’t be fooled by the byline- Locke proves that despite a mediocre sound bite, with the right actor and director, expect the unexpected and, in this case, Steven Knight and Tom Hardy create magic in the experimental film Locke. 

The dreamlike visuals put audiences into a trance, one that we are all to willing to fall in to.

Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is an ordinary man faced with a life-altering decision, and has no choice but to confront the problem immediately. As he’s leaving work after a late night shift at a construction site, he gets into his black BMW SUV and begins making and receiving phone calls, each call gets him further away from the life he had. It’s a stressful film with high tension, but the beautiful cinematography eases anxiety. The dreamlike visuals put audiences into a trance, one that we are all to willing to fall in to.

Tom Hardy is a method actor, known for such roles as the villain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises and the British conman Eames in Inception. Locke is Hardy’s first ever “normal” role, playing blue-collar family man Ivan Locke, a role in which he embodies to perfection. Hardy’s acting abilities are on full display, being that he is the only character we ever see on screen, and he carries the film on his back like a champion. Even if you close your eyes and just listen to Hardy’s acquired Welsh accent, the tension pulses through you all the same as if you were watching it.

Locke is a captivating film, very reminiscent of the 2002 thriller Phone booth (starring Colin Farrell) for the connected car generation. What makes this film unique is that it feels more like a stage play as Tom Hardy rides this emotional roller coaster that mesmerizes audiences into a psychological trance. A breakout performance by Hardy and genius direction from Steve Knight make this film a must see for the artsy crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdaofZfgV_Q