Trunk is a 2023 German thriller film about a young woman who wakes up disoriented in the trunk of a speeding car. Promoted as Trunk: Locked In
Written and directed by Marc Schießer, making his feature directorial debut after his work on the German series Wishlist. Schießer and his partner Tobias Lohf produced under their Outside the Club banner. Berlin actress Sina Martens (The Perfumier, Tatort) headlines the single-location thriller, with Artjom Gilz, Luise Helm and Poal Cairo in other roles.
Plot:
Twenty-eight-year-old medical student Malina wakes up disoriented in a locked trunk and must realize with horror that she is missing more than just the memory. With her phone as the only connection to the outside world, the intelligent young woman wages a desperate fight for survival while the vehicle races relentlessly toward a terrible secret. Even if she makes it – she will never be the same.
Reviews:
“Part whodunit, part action horror, part survival thriller, Trunk – Locked In is a harrowing journey out of the mouth of hell. As the movie unfolds in real time, Malina becomes our avatar for survival and we constantly ask ourselves if we could be this resourceful given the same scenario. With a breathless ending and a surprising amount of action sequences, Schießer’s film proves to be much more than the sum of its parts.” ★★★½ Bloody Disgusting
“The plot seems weighty, but when it comes to the formal design, the spatial confinement is not implemented with the necessary seriousness. Despite a promising premise, Marc Schießer’s Trunk disappoints with platitudes and anti-claustrophobic compromises in the implementation of the restricted, narrow, dark place concept.” Filmstarts [translated from German]
” …as much as it’s claustrophobic, it’s extremely adrenaline-laced with action throughout. The impressive and constantly moving camerawork ensures that it never gets too sedentary. Instead, we’re moving around inside the trunk along with the woman who’s trapped inside it. Malina makes stupid decisions along the way, which irritated me.” ★★★ Heaven of Horror
“Schießer definitely has it locked down from the get-go when it comes to creating something extremely tense. It’s a film that’s been made by someone who clearly knows thrillers inside and out. It’s exciting seeing someone’s debut have this much aptitude.” 4 out of 5, Loud and Clear
“Scheiber consistently lands precisely the type of claustrophobic camera angles and POV shots that Liam Nesson’s recent car-centric thriller Retribution tried in vain to achieve. You may end up sniffing out some of the mystery at play, but even so, Schießer’s finale will be no less satisfying. Trunk is a tense, crowd-pleasing thriller, one that adds enough detours to a well-traveled road until it’s fun again.” ★★★★ Maddwolf
“Trunk uses common thriller patterns and is occasionally predictable. Nevertheless, the title manages to grab attention, especially thanks to Sina Martens’ impressive performance and the limited setting. For lovers of the suspense genre in limited spaces, the Amazon production represents a solid choice.” 6 out of 10, Moviebreak [translated from German]
“As our distressed protagonist, Martens pulls off just the right balance of vulnerable victim and resourceful heroine. We learn early on that Malina has medical experience, which comes in handy as her body gets increasingly battered, and she’s able to make clever MacGyver-style use of the various bits of junk she finds in the trunk. At the same time, it’s clear Malina is in no position to overpower her kidnapper.” ★★★½ The Movie Waffler
“While occasionally treading some familiar ground, the film does so with enough innovation and style to keep the audience riveted. Schießer demonstrates a profound understanding of building suspense and crafting a compelling narrative within the confines of a single location. This film is an intriguing cinematic journey, showcasing that simplicity, when executed well, can lead to powerful storytelling.” 4 out of 5, Overly Honest Movie Reviews
“Trunk is a marvel on many levels. Martens gives an endlessly compelling performance under incredibly difficult circumstances. The story never gives a moment’s pause from its high stakes tension. The camera pulls off fascinating movement after fascinating movement. 4 out of 5, Scare Value
“Between tapping into a fear that hasn’t necessarily been overexploited and creating an interesting mystery regarding why Malina has been kidnapped, Trunk – Locked In presents an entertaining thriller worth checking out, especially for Prime Video subscribers.” 78% Wherever I Look
Release:
“Outside the Club is excited to announce the global release of their last feature, Marc Schießer’s pulsing thriller Trunk: Locked In, as an Original feature on Prime Video. Trunk will debut on January 26, 2024, on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories around the world.”
Trailer:
