Locked Down, a 2021 COVID-themed movie, fails to match the originality and innovation of its thematic predecessor, the 2020 gem Host. Both productions have a similar premise, yet the HBO Max film favors celebrity appeal over smart and thoughtful storytelling, despite the brilliance of acclaimed screenwriter Steven Knight. Locked Down works as a genre piece about a specific time and place (locked-down London), but it lacks the heart and creativity of Host, a film that sticks the landing much more effectively.
When Host released in 2020, it became an immediate cultural sensation - at least amongst committed streamers - by accomplishing so much with such a small budget. In just 56 minutes, the horror film fleshes out numerous character arcs, with the storyline focusing on a group of friends who meet, via Zoom, for a seance. When the event isn't taken seriously, the protagonists pay the ultimate price. In Locked Down, released a full six months later (a long time in the era of COVID-19), a former couple works out their personal issues while living together in London, and ultimately decides to collaborate for a Saturday night heist. Whereas Host feels urgent and relevant, Locked Down seems contrived and flippant, with the HBO Max filmmakers assuming that audiences will be dazzled by the celebrity assembly and we're-all-in-this-together messaging.
Simplicity is key for Host's success as a movie. Director Rob Savage gets straight to the point with the paranoia/evil spirit angle, so when the main characters meet up, there's substance behind the inevitable lockdown-themed exposition. Host doesn't merely try to connect with audiences via its Zoom premise, but rather creates genuine suspense by exploring the characters' personal lives and the spaces they inhabit. This type of specific storytelling capitalizes upon the real-life need for people to connect during lockdown, and - in a brilliant storytelling twist - the seance premise allows for a subtextual commentary about the fates of people who don't take the coronavirus seriously. Plus, the practical jump scares are complemented by some ingeniously freaky special effects, which captures the looming sense of dread that so many people have been feeling during the COVID-19 crisis. For a low-budget film with a multi-screen aesthetic, Host features some impressive cinematography, which is enhanced by the tonal rhythm and sharp editing. There's an infectious and undeniable indie spirit that stands out, with the main cast delivering naturalistic performances. Host stars Haley Bishop, Gemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, and Caroline Ward.
Locked Down, however, suffers from a lack of self-awareness. The characters don't take the pandemic that seriously, and the filmmakers seem to believe that the all-star celebrity cast will feel welcoming to audiences, when in fact the characters aren't that relatable. For example, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as the self-loathing Paxton, a character who performs poetry for his neighbors and accepts an under-the-table cash gig under the assumed identity of Edgar Allen Poe. The furloughed character was seemingly designed to be relatable to so many real-life folks who have lost work, but, unfortunately, comes across as a contrived movie character rather than a real-life person. Anne Hathaway, who gives a spectacular performance, fares much better in Locked Down as Paxton's ex-partner, Linda, but the character's CEO job sets up a series of Zoom-themed sequences that seemingly exist just to remind audiences that the filmmakers understand the technology and its relevance. All the other celebrity cameos in the movie don't amount to much.
Host and Locked Down are tales of accountability and hubris, respectively. The former understands the stakes, whereas the latter sees the world through a celebrity lens, in which serious matters are merely annoyances. To be fair, Locked Down is anything but a terrible film; the HBO Max movie will indeed appeal to many, and also provide accessible entertainment that will help some people get through a difficult day. Still, we shouldn't be content with mediocre COVID-19 filmmaking. That's what makes Host so special. In five, 10, or 25 years, moviegoers can look back and get a sense of the true paranoia and uncertainty that plagued the minds of so many during the early months of 2020; a time when it wasn't entirely clear how COVID-19 would affect the immediate future. Locked Down has a clever title and premise, but it's not the definitive mainstream pandemic film that it purports itself to be. That high-profile movie still needs to be made. Until then, Host remains the best lockdown production.