Unit 234

I'll watch Isabelle Fuhrman in anything, but this was a disappointment. A mediocre thriller with a plot that's never surprising given the conventions of the genre, and is helped along by implausible events to a climax that had me laughing out loud. The dialogue is obvious, the directing is uninspired, and the acting is actually pretty good.

Fuhrman can't miss, but this movie belongs to Don Johnson, in a subtle role as an ambiguous baddie. Some of the thugs are pretty good too. The boyfriend character is completely unnecessary and his key scene is not even on screen. Overall a not terrible dumb movie with some good performances.

Not great, not terrible... i think what made this work was the good acting of the young woman lead, isabelle fuhrman, and don johnson...who had some good dramatic moments. Both seemed to hit all the right notes at all the right times... i think fuhrman might be around for a while. It was an interesting story but, me having seen lots and lots of movies and having read a lot, as well...a lot of the important points were predictable to me...still...i imagine the writer hasn't done much writing yet but this wasn't a bad start...B movie, in this case, doesn't stand for bad if you're ok with watching a good performance by Johnson and a surprising performance from Fuhrman.

The movie was good. It's a classic type of thriller with classic plot twists schemes. It looks kinda cheap, I mean budget of it looks kinda low. I do not demand a high budget to enjoy a movie. I like even trash movies. If it's a good story this is the most important. The story in this thriller is good, so I enjoyed it. Maybe it has some logical flaws at points, but not crucial at all. Some actors didn't act too well. Only the main actors did a good job. And at some points even a really good job. The location of the storage place was unusual enough so it felt fresh to make me curious where it all will go. So if you looking for a high budget movie then you maybe should skip it. Because it doesn't look high budget. If you OK with low budget movies, then you might really enjoy this. If you watched too much thrillers you might guess what will happen approximately. So what. Also English is not my main language.

Unit 234 delivers a solid mix of suspense and character-driven storytelling, but what really stood out was Isabelle's performance. For once, we see her playing a normal, sane character - which was quite strange in itself given her usual roles. That said, she absolutely pulled it off. Her portrayal feels genuine, grounded, and likeable, adding a layer of realism that made the whole film more engaging.

The plot moves at a steady pace, keeping you interested without relying on over-the-top action or cheap thrills. And just when you think you've figured it all out, a nice twist hits at the end - one I genuinely didn't see coming.

Overall, Unit 234 is worth a watch. It's refreshing, well-acted, and has just enough mystery to keep you hooked until the credits roll.

Unit 234, available on Prime Video as The Lock-up, delivers a contained and often tense thriller experience. 6.5/10

The film centers on Laurie (Isabelle Fuhrman), a lone employee at a remote storage facility who discovers an unconscious man and soon fights for survival against a ruthless gang. The premise is immediately engaging, setting up a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game within a confined space.

Isabelle Fuhrman, known for Orphan and The Hunger Games, carries the film with a believable and committed performance as Laurie. She effectively portrays the character's increasing desperation and resilience, making her a protagonist you can genuinely root for. Don Johnson also features as Jules, the menacing gang leader, bringing a seasoned villainous presence.

The direction, by Andy Tennant, largely succeeds in building a claustrophobic atmosphere and maintaining dread throughout the first half. (It is very different from his earlier work like Hitch and Sweet Home Alabama.)

However, the film ultimately falls into predictable genre traps. The action, though present, doesn't always feel impactful or creatively staged, occasionally devolving into generic confrontations. Despite efforts to provide twists, the overall narrative arc feels somewhat familiar, preventing it from truly standing out.

The Lock-up is a solid watch for fans of contained thrillers, offering a tense ride, but it doesn't quite break new ground.

Rating: 6.5/10.