“Unlocked” has been released on Blu-Ray in the United Kingdom on Monday and I was thrilled to finally watch it. I was expecting something bad after the film has been in the shelf for over 3 years (as you can clearly see on Toni’s hair, growing back after shooting “Miss You Already” in 2015). Luckily, the film’s quality was not the reason for its delay – at least not in my book. It’s a good entertaining thriller, nothing new to say the least, but still very well done and a good ride. I was looking forward to an ensemble piece, given the talents of John Malkovich, Toni Collette, Michael Douglas and Orlando Bloom involved, but it really is a one-woman show with Noomi Rapace commanding the screen – and every single scene. It’s another powerful leading role. The only real disappointment about the British Blu-Ray is that it includes absolutely no special features, zero. It would have been nice to go behind the scenes and learn more about the making of the film. Make sure to grab your copy or catch it in an American theater for its US release starting tomorrow. Screencaptures from the Blu-Ray have been added to the photo gallery – be advised that they contain spoilers.

“Unlocked” has premiered in UK theaters on Friday. Reviews have been favorable to mixed, all describing it as a female Bourne-story with praise for Rapace and criticism on the plot – but not as bad as one would have feared for a film that has been shelfed for over two years. Here’s a selection of reviews from the British press, highlighting Toni’s performance (and her much-mentioned Annie Lennox hairdo), production stills can be found below.

The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw, May 05, 2017
Veteran director Michael Apted has put together an entertaining espionage action-thriller, on the time-honoured theme of the agent going rogue because the bosses are complicit in the dirty dealing; Apted is working with a script from feature newcomer Peter O’Brien. It doesn’t break much in the way of new ground, but that isn’t exactly the point – it rattles along and Apted tackles it with gusto. It’s also satisfying to see Toni Collette let rip with a machine gun.

Variety, Guy Lodge, May 07, 2017
As the Hollywood casting search for a new, rebooted Lisbeth Salander starts up again, spare a thought for poor Noomi Rapace. Having stepped aside for Rooney Mara in David Fincher’s 2011 film, the original girl with the dragon tattoo is still proving her mettle for the part in far lesser vehicles like “Unlocked” — an anonymously enjoyable espionage thriller that, for purposes of memory, all but self-destructs the second the closing credits begin to roll. Collette, given the least to do of the headliners, but rocking a machine gun and platinum pixie crop with equally lethal aplomb.

The Guardian, Simran Hans, May 07, 2017
islamic State, MI5, a deadly virus and a neck-tattooed Orlando Bloom: screenwriter Peter O’Brien throws everything at the wall in this derivative thriller. Nothing sticks. With a cast of A-listers including John Malkovich, Michael Douglas and Toni Collette, not to mention Rapace herself, you’d expect at least one performance capable of cutting through the script’s sludge. Still, worth a hate-watch if only to hear Bloom’s former marine declare in full EastEnders mode: “I love a tagine.”

The Telegraph, Robbie Colin, May 04, 2017
Think of Unlocked as the dress-down Friday of contemporary espionage thrillers. Everyone who was supposed to turn up seems to be there, in some shape or form, but in their eyes you virtually can see the stopwatch counting down to 6pm. Set in a scrupulously true-to-life version of London’s East End, Michael Apted’s film centres on former CIA interrogator Alice Racine (Noomi Rapace), who investigates an Islamist terror plot only to find herself embroiled in a web of inter-agency triple and quadruple crosses. She’s Bourne within the sound of Bow bells, essentially, but the film’s attempt to combine mainstream action and timely social realism results in the kind of sticky mess that should have been easily avoided.

The trailer and poster for “Unlocked” has been released today, and it looks very good. That being said, the film has been awaiting theatrical release for over three years, so one was worried what could have gone wrong. London is under biological attack from terrorists in Unlocked, and only Noomi Rapace has the key. Rapace stars as a CIA operative who finds her mission compromised. She’s forced to team up with an MI5 agent, played by Orlando Bloom, to track down the terrorist infiltration and prevent a major attack. Along the way, she’s ably assisted (or hindered?) by the likes of Michael Douglas, Toni Collette, and John Malkovich. Quite a cast. Veteran British director Michael Apted is behind the camera on this one, which makes sense given his Bond pedigree on The World Is Not Enough. Unlocked arrives on 5 May. Screencaptures have been added to the photo gallery, alongside the film’s poster. I’m still wondering if the shots of Toni firing a machine gun might be a spoiler :-) I guess we’ll find out soon.

According to Hollywood Reporter, John Malkovich and Toni Collette are joining Noomi Rapace, Michael Douglas and Orlando Bloom in the thriller Unlocked. Michael Apted is directing the female Bourne-style thriller from a screenplay by Peter O’Brien. The story centers on a CIA interrogator (Rapace), who unwittingly provides information to terrorists and then must race against the clock to stop a biological warfare attack on London. Principal photography will commence on November 3. Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing with Georgina Townsley and Erik Howsam. Claudia Blumhuber is also producing as well as financing through Silver Reel. Bloom first introduced the film to buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival.