By: Ryan Dailey
Locked In, directed by Chase Dudley, is a film that would have fit in perfectly during the torture porn phase of the early 2000’s brought on by films like Hostel. The content was standard for movies of that type at that time.
The plot centers around two female hostages, held in captivity and tortured by a man for the delight of his streaming audience. Madison(Amber Dawn Fox) is an innocent, God-fearing woman who is fast friends with her fellow captor, Melanie, (Nailya Shakirova).
Guy,(Robert Allen Mukes), is a hulking beast of a man and shows no mercy to his victims. The kills and depictions of violence in this film almost feel as though it wants to be A Serbian Film but pulls its punches and becomes more like Saw.
The script to Locked In is fleshed out a bit better than most, the characters’ back stories are ones that have been told time and time again, but the way it is written and delivered keeps the viewer engaged in what is going on with the protagonists.
It is a solid directorial effort, Chase taking his time with the slower, character building scenes and building tension with the kills.
All in all, Locked In is a solid film, offering some nail biting moments, wrapped around a heart-warming narrative of friendship and the will to survive.
Locked In is available to stream on Tubi.
