Storage units can offer a wealth of surprises, usually of the unexpected variety, or those that will haunt you for weeks. For such a mundane location, films that heavily use or are set in storage units need to have one hell of a narrative to keep the story going. So usually a horror or a thriller. You'd never have a rom-com set exclusively at a storage unit, with a fair few unscrupulous characters and a twist that you may see coming, but at least you were entertained. Andy Tennant‘s Unit 234: The Lock Up is just entertaining enough that you can forgive its benign location.
Laurie, the owner of a remote storage facility once run by her parents, ends up working the night shift after her plans fall through. After becoming suspicious of a very persistent man, claiming to own a unit, Laurie discovers an unconscious man locked in Unit 234. The man, Clayton, is chained to a gurney and missing a kidney. Laurie finds herself having to fight off a dangerous gang who are determined to retrieve Clayton, by any means necessary.
Unit 234 is an almost by-the-numbers thriller that very quickly becomes an intense cat-and-mouse chase around the storage unit. The location itself comes with both advantages and frustrating weaknesses, leaving Laurie with few choices to outwit the gang members. Thankfully and rather surprisingly, not only are we presented with a very dark prospect as to why and how Clayton found himself in a body bag missing a kidney, as well as talk of black-market organs, but the story picks up the pace and never slows down. There are a few moments of downtime to get a back story from Laurie and even the appointed ‘bad guy' played by Don Johnson, but these more sombre scenes just add texture to the thin plot. The tension builds up from the minute the ‘package' (Clayton) arrives at the storage and doesn't stop until the very end scenes where Laurie has to fight for her life. In a film with such a basic set-up and thin narrative, it's actually very refreshing and inventive to be able to build up the characters as well as the story throughout. The only element that let the film down is a turning point or realisation near the third act. This particular reveal is expected in some shape or form but felt like it came a bit too late.
The cast is decent, with only a handful of characters, but it is Isabelle Fuhrman as Laurie who stands out. Making it oh so believable that this character ended up owning a storage unit and it slowly becoming her whole life. She also gives a fine demonstration of her action-movie capabilities, and it's a shame she hasn't been given a bigger opportunity in that genre.
Overall Unit 234 is a surprisingly gripping, tension-filled filled and exciting watch. Who'd have thought a storage unit setting could be this thrilling?
Unit 234: The Lock Up is available on Digital Platforms now.