Directed by Steven Knight, Locke first premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2013 and has become one of Tom Hardy’s most impressive roles

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Calling all Tom Hardy fans! One of the British actor’s most legendary films has just landed on a free streaming service – and after being hailed as a “masterpiece” by fans, it’s set to be your next must-watch.

Directed by Steven Knight, Locke is a psychological drama that first premiered back in 2013 and stars Tom in the lead role as Ivan. The film, which uniquely takes place during a single car journey, follows Ivan as he makes a series of increasingly fraught phone calls to characters voiced by the likes of Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott and Tom Holland.

Tom plays Ivan Locke© Alamy Stock Photo
Tom plays Ivan Locke

While the movie is known for its minimalism, it’s widely considered to be one of Tom’s most impressive performances and even earned him the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor.

Plus, you know you’re in for a treat when Steven Knight is at the helm of a project, as he’s the man behind hit dramas like House of Guinness, Peaky Blinders, A Thousand Blows and Dirty Pretty Things. If you’re after a gritty watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Locke is definitely worth tuning into. Intrigued? Keep reading to find out everything about the movie, which is available to stream for free on Tubi.

What is Locke about?

The movie centres around Ivan, a man who has worked hard to carefully curate his life around the job and family he loves. However, the synopsis continues: “On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job and soul.

“All taking place over the course of one absolutely riveting car ride, Locke is an exploration of how one decision can lead to the complete collapse of a life.”

Who stars in Locke?

Tom leads the movie as Ivan Locke, while Olivia Colman plays his colleague, Bethan Maguire. Meanwhile, Ruth Wilson is Ivan’s wife Katrina, while Tom Holland and Bill Milner play their sons, Eddie and Sean, and Andrew Scott plays Ivan’s work trainee, Donal.

The movie takes place during one pivotal car journey© Alamy Stock Photo
The movie takes place during one pivotal car journey

Rounding out the cast are Ben Daniels as Gareth, Danny Webb as Cassidy, Alice Lowe as Sister Margaret and Silas Carson as Halil Gullu.

What have viewers said about Locke?

The film was received positively by viewers and currently sits at a 72 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One viewer, who hailed the film as “a masterpiece of a movie”, wrote: “A compelling and engaging story, unravelling one phone call at a time. I felt really involved, both in Locke’s family and personal vicissitudes, and in all that concrete drama.”

The film is available to watch on Tubi© Alamy Stock Photo
The film is available to watch on Tubi

Meanwhile, another penned: “Brutally underrated, this movie is unbelievably good. Tom Hardy is just perfect,” while a third added: “Despite the fact that he is the only character in this movie, Tom Hardy manages to make his flawed character a Shakespearean figure that we can’t help but enjoy watching!”

What have critics said about Locke?

The film proved even more of a hit with critics and holds a 91 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. In its review, The Telegraph wrote: “Tom Hardy is brilliant in Locke, a film that manages to turn the logistics of pouring concrete into one of the most nail-biting thrillers of the year.”

Meanwhile, Variety penned: “An exceptional one-man show for Tom Hardy, this ingeniously executed study in cinematic minimalism has depth, beauty and poise.”

The Guardian added: “Locke is a bold, evocative film, in which voices, intonations and noises off – and a terrific unseen supporting cast – build up a detailed picture of a world and a man’s life, as elegantly and economically as the best radio play.”

Locke is available to stream for free on Tubi.