Locked In (2023 film)
| Locked In | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Nour Wazzi |
| Written by | Rowan Joffé |
| Produced by | Nicky Bentham |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
| Edited by | Fiona DeSouza |
| Music by | Alex Baronowski |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
Locked In is a 2023 psychological thriller film directed by Nour Wazzi and written by Rowan Joffé. It stars Famke Janssen, Rose Williams and Finn Cole. It was released on streaming service Netflix on 1 November 2023.
Plot
Katherine, a former TV star, wakes up in hospital after a severe accident has left her with “locked in” syndrome, whereby she is completely paralyzed and cannot communicate. A nurse called Nicky begins to work with Katherine, to try to help her regain some bodily control. Nicky seeks information about Katherine from Lina, who is the wife of Jamie, Katherine's step-son. Katherine also acted as Lina’s guardian after the death of her mother.
Flashbacks reveal that Katherine’s husband was very wealthy, and when he died left everything to his son. Jamie, who suffered from seizures, longed for Katherine's love and care, but she was often distant and preoccupied with resentment over her disinheritance. Lina took responsibility for Jamie, becoming his primary caregiver, and forming a close bond with him.
Lina and Jamie eventually married, but Katherine, although previously fond of Lina, was bitter that she had inherited the family estate by marrying Jamie. Lina came to feel trapped in the marriage; she resented the fact that Jamie was a permanent invalid, but at the same time felt she could not leave him.
Dr Robert Lawrence, the family doctor, became involved in their lives and formed a romantic relationship with Lina. But Robert had ulterior motives; hoping to inherit the property, he prescribed Jamie painkillers that caused his health to deteriorate.
One day, Robert persuaded Jamie, who was feeling slightly better, to take a boat ride with him and Lina. On the water, Robert deliberately capsized the boat, and held Jamie underwater until he drowned. Lina attempted to rescue him but failed. Robert staged the whole thing as an accident, as Jamie couldn’t swim, but Lina knew the truth.
Following Jamie's funeral, Robert pressured Lina to sell the mansion, but she resisted, finally realising his true intentions. Robert then revealed that he had Lina's journal, in which she had fantasised about killing Jamie, and insinuated she could be blamed for his death.
After Lina discovered that Robert and Katherine had been having an affair she decided to leave, but Robert chased her. Katherine intervened, attempting to protect Lina, but Robert deliberately ran over Katherine with his car.
As Katherine gradually recovers, Nicky teaches her to communicate by responding to letters of the alphabet by blinking. Nicky is shocked when Katherine spells out the word “murder”.
When Lina learns of this, she persuades Robert to help her take Katherine home, believing she will implicate them both in Jamie’s death by spelling out more words. But Nicky follows them and tells Lina that Katherine is actually trying to protect her from Robert.
Lina tricks Robert and injects him with a lethal drug he has prepared for Katherine, but it is not strong enough to kill him. Robert attacks her, but Lina fights back and stabs him to death.
The police later arrive at the mansion and collect Robert's lifeless body, as Lina, Katherine and Nicky watch. Lina asks Nicky what she will tell them, but Nicky remains silent.
Cast
- Famke Janssen as Katherine
- Rose Williams as Lina
- Alex Hassell as Doctor Robert Lawrence
- Finn Cole as Jamie
- Anna Friel as nurse Mackenzie
Production
Nicky Bentham produced for Neon Films, with Alison Jackson executive producing for Gaumont. It is the feature length debut of director Nour Wazzi who worked from a script by Rowan Joffé.[2]
Casting
In December 2022, Finn Cole, Famke Janssen and Rose Williams were confirmed in the lead roles with Alex Hassell and Anna Friel also in the cast.[3]
Filming
Principal photography took place in London in late 2022.[4] In early 2023, filming also took place in St Albans, including at St Albans Cathedral.[5]
Release
Locked In was released on 1 November 2023 through the streaming service Netflix.[6]
References
- ^ "Locked In (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 31, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (December 21, 2022). "Famke Janssen & Rose Williams To Topline Netflix's Psychological Thriller 'Locked In' From Director Nour Wazzi; Alex Hassell, Finn Cole And Anna Friel Also Set". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Seddon, Dan (December 23, 2022). "Peaky Blinders star Finn Cole lands next movie role". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (June 28, 2023). "Stars of Tomorrow 2023: Nour Wazzi (writer-director)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "'Locked In' revealed as production filmed in St Albans". Hertfordshire Advertiser. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Rowan, Iona (October 18, 2023). "Peaky Blinders star Finn Cole's new movie confirms Netflix release date". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
