A British pub, a bunch of kung fu fighters, a killer soundtrack and the legendary Keith Vitali… what’s not to like?
Nathan Geering’s The Lock In is one of those films that shows exactly why independent action movies can be so much fun. Written, directed and starring Geering, the film takes something as ordinary as an English pub and turns it into the setting for a very unexpected night of martial arts madness.
The story is pretty straightforward. Drew heads to a pub for what should be a fairly normal first date, but things quickly take a turn when the doors close and he discovers that this isn’t going to be the quiet evening he had planned. Before long, the pub has become an underground fighting arena and barman Johnny may not be quite as he seems as Drew is dragged into a fight for survival.
It’s the way The Lock In embraces its love of old school kung fu that really makes it stand out for me.
You can see that Nathan Geering genuinely loves the classic martial arts movies that have influenced him. This isn’t a case of simply adding a few fight scenes to a comedy and calling it a kung fu film. There’s a real effort to recreate the feel of those old-school Hong Kong movies, from the fighting styles and choreography to the way the characters move and interact during the action.
What I really enjoyed is how the film takes that classic kung fu influence and drops it into such a British setting. Throw in the humour, the pub environment and a seriously cool soundtrack, and you end up with something that feels very different from your usual martial arts movie.
For me, that’s where The Lock In really finds its identity it knows exactly what kind of films it’s paying tribute to, but it isn’t afraid to put its own British spin on the formula and watch out for Nathan’s Break Fu, it will have your head spinning!
And I have to mention the music, because it really adds to the atmosphere.
There’s a wonderfully cool soundtrack running through the film which helps give the fights and characters an extra bit of personality. It feels like the filmmakers aren’t afraid to have fun with the material, and that comes across in the music, the action and even the way the pub itself is used.
I also really enjoyed the decision to keep the majority of the action centred around the pub setting. It gives the film a contained feel, but Geering finds plenty of ways to make the location work. Pool tables, corridors, bar areas and whatever else can be turned into part of the action all become potential battlegrounds.
Then there’s Drew Sinclair.
Sinclair provides a good chunk of the comic relief as Drew and gives the film a nice change of pace between the more serious fight sequences. There’s a real sense that everyone involved knows exactly what kind of movie they’re making, and that willingness to have a bit of fun with the characters works really well.
But let’s be honest… there’s one name that martial arts fans are going to be looking out for……Keith Vitali.
The man is an absolute legend, Wheels on Meals, No Retreat No Surrender 3, and seeing him back in a kung fu action movie is a real treat. Vitali plays The Father, and although I’m not going to spoil exactly what he gets up to, his presence brings a fantastic dose of old-school martial arts credibility to the film.
And Geering deserves plenty of credit for putting all of this together.
This is his first feature as director, as well as writing, producing and starring in the film, and you can feel the passion for martial arts and old-school action cinema behind it. The film isn’t trying to be the next big Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, it’s a fun, independently made love letter to the kung fu movies that clearly inspired it.
There are inevitably a few rough edges that come with an independent production, but for me that is part of the charm. The Lock In has personality, and that’s something you can’t simply throw money at.
It’s British, it’s bonkers, it’s packed with kung fu and it’s clearly been made by people who genuinely love the genre.
⭐ Eastern Film Fans Rating: 4/5
A fun British kung fu action comedy with a great setting, cool music, plenty of old-school martial arts spirit and a welcome return from the legendary Keith Vitali. If you love your kung fu with a very British twist, The Lock In is well worth checking out.
