Trunk: Locked In

I started watching it with some expectations, yes, with this movie I had an expectation, and it is to see more of the outside, more about her life and about her past... But no, the whole movie is inside the trunk, it is not my cup of tea!. It was really unbearable for me and I am impressed by the high rating.

The lead actress Sina Martens does a great job! 3 stars for that. And it has some realism to a certain extent, because what a family this woman has, terrible, very, very disbelieving.

And the police? You can't trace a mobile phone? Quite strange. It would have been more exciting with some action, without a doubt, and not a psychological journey about a woman's private problems.

This movie hit a nerve but in a very bad way, I don't recommend it at all, slow and boring, which makes it seem much longer than it is.

Medical student Malina (Sina MARTENS) finds herself trapped in the trunk of a car. She and her boyfriend (Artyom GILZ), with whom she was traveling around the world, were overwhelmed at a rest stop. Malina can make herself noticed with a cell phone, but that only helps to a limited extent. Finally, there are still some unpleasant surprises waiting for the young woman...

The AMAZON MGM STUDIOS made a remarkable German shocker by Wuppertal director Marc SCHIESSER possible. The German actress Sina MARTENS, who was just seen in the Berlinale competition entry IN LIEBE, EURE HILDE / IN LOVE, YOUR HILDE by Andreas DRESEN, delivers a magnificent performance in a very small space. Artjom GILZ, who has been known since the series MILK AND HONEY on the German private television channel VOX in 2018, plays her smart friend Enno. Luise HELM, Scarlett JOHANSSON's voice actress, can be heard as the voice of policewoman Elisa.

The story is a bit reminiscent of the Spanish shocker BURIED (2010) with Ryan REYNOLDS, but is independent enough not to be boring. The camera work, the wealth of ideas and the great motorway scenes from the Ruhr area, where the German hit series ALARM FÜR COBRA 11 is filmed, are particularly convincing.

Good genre films can also be made in German-speaking countries. Financially, however, you need the funds of the global streaming giants.

It's also very nice that a popular classic like ICH BIN WIE DU / I AM LIKE YOU by the German pop singer Marianne ROSENBERG is given a completely new honor.

Recommended!

"Trunk" throws you head over heals into this claustrophobic setting - somehow an irrational fear I never knew I had. I did not have any moment where I was thrown off by something unlogical or too stupid by the main character - and that says a lot for the usual German film already. Sina Martens carries a huge portion of this movie, and she portrays all these intense emotions and these seamless changes of moods brilliantly! I never doubted her fear, nor her will to survive for one second. Production design and photography-wise the crew managed to turn every inch and angle of this vehicle's trunk into a cinematic image. Light settings and visual language changes subtly and always motivated, but makes every minute seem like a different scene. I was stunned by the variety of visuals they managed to show. The overall story arch is full of surprises and intelligently written bits and pieces, I enjoyed, while rooting for Malinas survival.

All in all I find the movie to be a great example of what German filmmakers have to offer. What a thrilling ride! -literally. I am looking forward to more material from this caliber!

A small and exquisite thriller from Germany for those who want to elevate their heartbeat for 90 minutes without engaging in sports. A woman wakes up in a trunk and tries to figure out how she got there and - more importantly - how to get out. As simple as the premise may be the execution is sophisticated. What happens in terms of direction within these few square meters is more interesting than in most German cinema productions. It's evident that a lot of thought has gone into every movement of the actress and the camera to make the minimal setting maximally suspenseful. The film, of course, relies heavily on the lead actress who is continuously on screen, often in super close-ups, and is mentally and physically challenged. And Sina Martens delivers! She ensures that you are emotionally connected to Malina throughout, rooting for her. The plot works and provides some twists and turns (which one might foresee), but it is not the main argument for the film. Here it's all about the experience, the claustrophobia, the haptic (there are a few nasty moments). Overall, Trunk is an extremely lean and, due to its breathlessness, very entertaining thriller that makes the most out of its idea.

"Trunk" is a rare true genre film from Germany. A thriller that absolutely captivated me from the first minute to the last. Really everything in this film was on point! The main actress captivated me incredibly. Her acting great! The script was written smart, exciting and emotionally.

The camera work in this small setting of a trunk completely blew me away. You would think there are only few options for creating different shots and angles in this setting. But the filmmakers came up with a visual mastery where no shot seems like the same! Creative and great atmosphere. Magnificent lighting. Sometimes I asked myself: How did they do that?

The sound and music are also absolutely great. All in all, the result is a super well-rounded, ultra-exciting, consistently nerve-wracking film that you won't think is from Germany

The rest of the cast also does a damn good job, especially considering the setting of the film. Very good directing work by Marc Schießer. And also great work from the entire film team!

Great recommendation for thriller friends!