A Slow Burn Gothic Mystery From Netflix.

I was going through my watchlist to pick out a movie to watch and I saw this movie, ’Locked In (2023)’ which was recommended to me by someone on the blockchain. After reading the snippet of what the movie is all about, I decided to go for it. I mean it's been a while since I have watched a gothic mystery film.

’Locked In’ is a modern Gothic story that basically centers around manor, British, rich family, orphans, illness, love affairs, deceitful characters, plots within plots, three timeline together (past, and present), etc. I must say Netflix did good with this movie, but not impressively good.

Immediately I read the snippet of this movie, I was already predicting the whole plot and how the story would end. So not to get ahead of myself, I decided to give the movie a chance and watch it with an open mind.

’Locked In (2023)’ is a psychological thriller film that was distributed by Netflix. It was also directed by Nour Wazzi and written by Rowan Joffé. It starred Famke Janssen, Rose Williams, Alex Hassell, Finn Cole and Anna Friel.

The storyline follows Katherine, a former British TV star who wakes up from a three week coma in the hospital after a terrible accident that has left her with locked-in syndrome (vegetative state). Mackenzie, who is a nurse, was working with Katherine to help regain her bodily control. With different exercises, Katherine revealed that someone wants to murder her.

On the other hand, we get to be introduced to Lina who is daughter-in-law to Katherine. Thirteen years ago, Katherine adopted Lina, after her mother was murder tragically. Katherine became Lina’s legal guardian but at the same time Katherine lost her husband and was not happy her husband willed his entire wealth to their son Jamie.

Jamie on the other hand was ill and needed a caregiver. Lina assumed the position since Katherine neglected her son. After a few years, Lina got married to Jamie and Katherine was not happy about the whole situation. As Lina worked alongside the family doctor, Lawrence, a forbidden affair started and strange things began to happen.

My Review And Rating.

This movie was a good watch for me. I enjoyed it and it was entertaining but it is not a movie I will not be remembering anytime soon.

Like I said earlier, this movie is a slow burn gothic mystery that we have seen so many times before. Most of the gothic mystery I have seen before always revolves around an orphan child, forbidden romance, psychopathic obsession and betrayal. All these were portrayed in this movie. Does the storyline bring any new unique things? No it didn't because it is still the same old gothic mystery we are used to.

The plot was written averagely okay but it was predictable for me. What I predicted would be the ending of this movie was actually what happened. I love how the story was told from Lina’s perspective, it added a little bit of an unexpected twist and turn in the movie. Also, the characters were well developed. I love how the back stories of each character were told to the viewers in bits. Finally, I love how the movie goes back and forth from the past to now. That alone created a good twist.

However one thing I would wish to improve in the cast/characters is the Neuroclincial Nurse, Mackenzie. I wish her role was written as a cop not a nurse. As a nurse, her role didn't create much suspense or tense. Better still, a cop character should have been involved in the cast of the movie, probably this movie would have been thrilling to watch.

The antagonist played by Alex Hassell was well portrayed. He was sneaky, cunny, psychopathic and at the same time he was dangerous. From the start of the movie, one would think Lina is the antagonist but she was not instead she was the antagonist’s tool.

The scene arrangements were okay. The camera works well, but the cinematography only consists of close ups which made the movie anticlimactic and predictable. Also, the movie lacked the appropriate gore to make it a proper psychological thriller.

Rating this movie, I will give it 6 out 10 stars. It is a movie that one will watch and forget about. That was the experience I got. Regardless of its flaws, the movie still has a pass mark for being a good gothic mystery movie. I would recommend this movie to lovers of mystery and psychological thriller.