Unlocked
Directed by Michael Apted
- action
- thriller
The story
After failing to apprehend the terrorist behind a Paris attack that claimed dozens of lives, CIA agent Alice Racine is forced to live in London as a caseworker. Her mentor unexpectedly calls her back into action when the CIA discovers that another attack is imminent. Alice soon learns that the classified information she's uncovered has been compromised...
What it’s like
Cool, grey London light and cramped interiors shape this thriller: rain-streaked windows, fluorescent-lit surveillance rooms, dim flats lit by laptop glow, and the restless handheld movement of a hunt through city streets. The palette runs to steel blues, damp greys and sickly greens, with flashes of colour rare enough to feel like alarms. Sound leans on a tense, pulsing score under clipped radio chatter and ringing phones, with long stretches of quiet dread between bursts of activity. Its vibe is taut, paranoid and urban, best suited to a late evening alone or a focused night in when you want suspense that keeps you guessing who to trust. The pacing is brisk and escalating, with a determined woman forced to rebuild her credibility and question everyone around her. Violence is present and fairly sharp, including gunfire, a few physical fights and a biohazard threat that brings real menace, though gore stays limited. It suits viewers who enjoy espionage twists, grounded action and a protagonist under pressure rather than anything gentle or cosy.
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