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Locke (2013)

Steven Knight’s Locke is a 2013 British drama film that delivers a masterclass in minimalist filmmaking. With only one character on screen for the entire movie, Locke is a gripping character study centered entirely on a man driving down a highway. Though the premise sounds simple, the film’s emotional complexity, stellar writing, and Tom Hardy’s tour-de-force performance elevate it into something quietly unforgettable.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: The Drive Begins

The film opens with Ivan Locke, a construction manager, getting into his BMW and setting out on a late-night drive from Birmingham to London. What seems like an ordinary journey quickly reveals itself to be a deeply personal and professionally catastrophic night. The entire film takes place inside his car in real time.

A Man Falling Apart, Piece by Piece

Locke begins making and receiving a series of phone calls that reveal the events that have forced him to abandon the biggest concrete pour of his professional life — the next morning’s major construction project. The reason? A woman named Bethan, with whom he had a one-night stand seven months ago, is about to give birth to his child. Locke feels morally obligated to be with her, despite having no emotional connection.

Through Bluetooth calls, we learn the following:

  • His wife, Katrina, is devastated by the betrayal. Her emotional unraveling is raw and honest.
  • His sons are watching a football game at home, unaware of the full extent of what’s happening.
  • His boss is furious, and his assistant Donal is left to handle the concrete pour — a task Locke micromanages from the road.
  • Bethan is emotionally fragile and desperately wants him to be there.

Wrestling With His Past

Ivan also confronts his own demons: his absent father, whose legacy of irresponsibility and abandonment still haunts him. These personal struggles emerge as he speaks aloud to the empty back seat, carrying out imaginary conversations with his deceased father — essentially swearing that he will not repeat the same mistakes.

Locke’s sense of morality becomes the central tension of the film. He knows his life is falling apart, yet he is determined to face the consequences directly — no lies, no escape.

Movie Ending

By the end of the journey, Locke has lost almost everything.

He arrives in London just as Bethan is about to give birth. He stays on the phone with her during the labor, offering comfort, though her condition becomes serious. The baby is delivered, and Locke, over the phone, hears the child cry for the first time.

His job is likely gone. Donal informs him that the concrete pour went ahead — barely — but Locke’s boss has fired him. His marriage is effectively over; Katrina tells him she doesn’t want to speak to him again. His children are still trying to process the news, and Ivan struggles to maintain a composed tone with them.

But here’s what’s critical: Locke doesn’t turn back. He doesn’t make excuses. He arrives in London having held himself together by sheer force of will and principle. The final shot shows him driving into the night — uncertain, alone, but having faced every consequence.

There is no redemption in the Hollywood sense, but there is a strange kind of dignity in his ruin.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Locke does not have any post-credits scenes. The story ends definitively with the conclusion of Ivan’s drive. There are no additional scenes or surprises after the credits roll.

Type of Movie

Locke is a psychological drama and real-time character study. It leans heavily on themes of responsibility, morality, personal collapse, and emotional resilience. It’s a chamber piece in the form of a road movie, unlike anything else in its genre.

Cast

  • Tom Hardy as Ivan Locke
  • Voice roles:
    • Olivia Colman as Bethan
    • Ruth Wilson as Katrina
    • Andrew Scott as Donal
    • Tom Holland as Eddie Locke (Ivan’s son)
    • Ben Daniels, Bill Milner, Danny Webb (various callers)

Notably, Tom Hardy is the only actor on screen throughout the entire film.

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Dickon Hinchliffe, and it is minimalist and atmospheric, fitting the film’s subdued tone. It underscores the isolation and emotional strain without ever overwhelming the viewer. Much of the tension in Locke comes from silence, phone calls, and Hardy’s performance — the music plays a supporting role.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed almost entirely inside a BMW X5 driving along the M6 motorway in the UK. The entire shoot took place over six nights, with the car being towed on a trailer while Tom Hardy acted live on camera. All the phone calls were performed live during filming, not dubbed in post-production.

The realism of the setting — the highway, the darkness, the confined space — is essential. It turns the car into a kind of emotional pressure cooker.

Awards and Nominations

  • British Independent Film Awards: Won Best Screenplay (Steven Knight), Best Actor (Tom Hardy)
  • London Film Critics’ Circle Awards: Won Best British Actor of the Year (Tom Hardy)
  • Evening Standard British Film Awards: Best Actor (Tom Hardy)
  • Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Actor Runner-Up

The film was widely praised for its originality, script, and especially Hardy’s performance.

Behind the Scenes Insights

  • The film was shot in real time, with Hardy performing the full 90-minute drive for each take.
  • The entire movie was completed in eight nights, with three cameras rolling simultaneously inside the car.
  • Director Steven Knight wanted the film to feel like a live theater piece, using minimal editing.
  • The phone calls were performed by the voice actors live from a conference room, maintaining natural timing and flow.
  • Tom Hardy based Locke’s Welsh accent on a builder he once met, giving the character a calm, controlled voice amid emotional chaos.

Inspirations and References

  • The concept came to Steven Knight from the idea of someone’s life collapsing in real time, but who remains stoic and methodical.
  • Thematically, it draws from Greek tragedy, where a character is doomed by personal flaws, not fate.
  • Ivan Locke is often compared to a modern-day version of a tragic hero — not through violent downfall, but through quiet moral choice.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no alternate endings publicly known. The film’s real-time format meant that every scene was essential. However, some takes were longer or more improvisational than what ended up in the final edit.

No major deleted scenes have been released, and the version released in theaters is considered the director’s definitive cut.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Locke is not based on a book, comic, or existing intellectual property. It is an original screenplay by Steven Knight. However, its structure and themes resemble classic literature more than modern cinema — particularly tragic drama and moral fables.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

  • Locke’s heated, tearful conversation with Katrina after confessing his affair.
  • His imaginary monologue directed at his dead father in the back seat.
  • The final phone call where he hears his newborn child crying.

Iconic Quotes

  • “I will do what needs to be done. I will not run away.”
  • “The difference between never and once is the difference between good and bad.”
  • “I’m not letting it go to the ground. I’m not letting that happen.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

  • Ivan’s surname “Locke” may be a nod to John Locke, the Enlightenment philosopher known for ideas on identity and self.
  • The football match his sons are watching is never shown or heard directly, symbolizing Locke’s emotional and physical separation from his family.
  • The film takes place over only 85 minutes, just a bit shorter than the actual runtime — enhancing the feeling of real-time immersion.

Trivia

  • Tom Hardy was reportedly sick with the flu during most of the shoot but insisted on continuing.
  • The script was only 40 pages, as much of the dialogue was organic and performed live.
  • Hardy called this role one of his most difficult due to its emotional intensity and physical stillness.
  • The car’s movement was created using rear projection and actual driving footage — very little CGI was used.

Why Watch?

Locke is a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience — it’s intimate, tense, and deeply human. If you enjoy character-driven films that explore themes like personal responsibility, consequence, and moral integrity, this is a must-watch. It’s also a clinic in minimalist storytelling: how much you can accomplish with one actor, one car, and one night.

Director’s Other Movies

  • Serenity (2019)
  • Redemption (2013)
  • Eastern Promises (2007) – screenplay
  • Peaky Blinders (creator and writer for TV)

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