Today’s quick review: Unlocked. When the CIA catches wind of a planned biological attack in London, interrogator Alice Racine (Noomi Rapace) is called in to extract crucial information from a courier. But Alice soon learns that she’s being set up by an enemy within the CIA, forcing her to flee to stay alive. With the help of her mentor (Michael Douglas) and an unlikely ally (Orlando Bloom), Alice must locate the virus before it is too late.
Unlocked is an action thriller about a CIA interrogator thrust into the middle of a deadly terror plot. Alice Racine must use her wits and the few resources at her disposal to stop a biological attack on London and track down a traitor within the Agency. Unlocked is a typical entry into its genre. Sharp plot twists and a fairly strong cast make it a worthwhile pick, but it lacks the polish and spectacle to stand out from its competition.
Unlocked takes the usual action thriller formula and adds a few flourishes that serve it well. The plot is prone to sharp twists that are often quite clever. The supporting cast is broader than usual for Unlocked’s flavor of thriller and includes Michael Douglas, Orlando Bloom, John Malkovich, and Toni Collette. The action isn’t a standout, but it’s a serviceable mix of fighting and gunplay, used more to accentuate the plot than as its own end.
Still, Unlocked is missing the polish needed to take it further. Noomi Rapace makes for a fine protagonist as Alice Racine but not an especially memorable one. The plot tends to move in fits and starts, reeling wildly in response to each plot twist. The supporting cast could have been condensed by two or three characters without much loss. The action suits the film well enough, but there’s room leftover for bigger stunts and more adrenaline.
Unlocked is a solid pick for those looking for a tidy action thriller with some good plot twists. It doesn’t deviate from the formula enough to make for an exceptional watch, but it does have enough going on to entertain fans of the genre. Those hoping for all-out action may want to keep looking. For an action thriller with more polish, try Safe House, Shooter, or Enemy of the State. For one of a similar caliber, try Survivor or Erased.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a solid plot and a good amount of action, missing the quality needed to take its premise further.