Unit 234

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.

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.

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.

Director Andy Tennant makes a surprising return to the thriller genre with Unit 234, a taut, single-location survival story that thrives on tension, atmosphere, and a refreshingly lean runtime. Set almost entirely in a remote, family-run storage facility, the film follows Laurie Saltair as she stumbles upon a brutal mystery: an unconscious man chained to a gurney inside a locked storage unit. What starts as an eerie discovery quickly spirals.

Watching Unit 234 was a nerve-jangling experience. From the moment Laurie discovers Clayton, I found myself fully locked in, the atmosphere so oppressive that even small sounds or sudden shadows had me flinching. It's not quite horror, but it cultivates a creeping dread that kept me on edge. Tennant doesn't rely on jump scares-instead, the tension simmers steadily, building toward violent, well-executed confrontations that genuinely had me gripping my seat. The sense of isolation and danger is palpable, and Laurie's vulnerability makes every decision feel like a tightrope walk between survival and doom.

Jack Huston delivers a compelling performance as the mysterious Clayton, navigating the fine line between victim and potential threat. His chemistry with the lead actress is understated yet effective, adding emotional weight to the film's quieter moments. Don Johnson, playing against type, shines as the menacing leader of the gang. His presence is both chilling and charismatic, and his scenes crackle with danger. The film benefits greatly from this solid cast, who elevate what could have been a formulaic thriller into something far more engaging.

Though it occasionally stumbles into familiar genre tropes, Unit 234 succeeds through its relentless pacing, smart casting, and effective use of space. It's a stripped-down thriller with a strong sense of place and character, and a worthy entry into the "single-setting survival" subgenre. Tennant proves he still has the chops to surprise, and with Huston and Johnson anchoring the film's drama and menace, Unit 234 holds the viewer hostage in the best way. If you're looking for a tight, edge-of-your-seat experience that makes the most of its confined setting, this film delivers.

I love Don Johnson, so it's tough to see him in films of such questionable quality.

The premise of the movie is actually quite solid. At first, you think the mystery revolves around Unit 234, but it turns out the real intrigue lies in Don Johnson's character. He's the only one who delivers a believable performance. The rest of the cast - his henchmen, the storage unit manager, the boyfriend - all give embarrassingly bad performances. To be fair, the script doesn't give them much to work with.

The movie awkwardly throws in bits of backstory out of nowhere, presumably to add depth, but the execution is so poor it ends up being unintentionally funny.

And throughout the movie, you'll constantly be asking yourself: Why doesn't anyone run or call the police? You'll find yourself shouting at the screen, just like when watching a low-budget slasher, hoping the characters make at least one smart choice.

But the silver lining is the final act. The last 20 minutes feel like they were written by someone entirely different - a genuinely surprising plot twist wrapped inside an otherwise terrible script.

Don Johnson's performance in the final scenes is genuinely strong. Did I mention I love Don Johnson?

If you're expecting something great, stay far away. But if you go in with zero expectations and just want to kill some time, it might actually be worth a watch.