One of Tom Hardy’s films has been hailed by critics and achieved an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but many disagree with its high rating.

Locke is a 2013 psychological drama road film written and directed by Steven Knight. Hardy stars in the title role (and the only on-screen character) as he drives while conducting a series of phone conversations with other characters voiced by Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Ben Daniels, Tom Holland and Bill Milner. The film premiered at the 70th Venice Film Festival in 2013, and was praised particularly for Hardy’s performance, which won him the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor.

The film’s synopsis reads: “A man’s (Tom Hardy) life unravels after he leaves a construction site at a critical time and drives to London to be present for the birth of a child conceived during a one-night stand.”

The Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus states: “A one-man show set in a single confined location, Locke demands a powerful performance — and gets it from a never-more-compelling Tom Hardy.”

However, despite its high rating, many did not like the film and are confused by its praise. One reviewer said: “I don’t care how good Hardy’s acting is. This movie was boring and predictable.”

Another added: “This was easily the worst movie I’ve ever sat through!”

“Not much of a story, and nothing really happens,” said a third.

In a Reddit thread titled “What does this sub think of Locke (2013)?”, one person said: “I was a bit underwhelmed”, while another agreed, “same. Mediocre at best in my opinion”.

Another person said: “I’m as big a Hardy fan as there is. I found it a bit of an interesting concept, but ultimately, it was pretty forgettable. Not something I’d ever watch again.”

One person said they “hated it”, while a user on Letterboxd said: “I can’t remember the last time I saw a film with less emotional intelligence. Heavy-handed, contrived, and downright silly.”

“I like movies that happen in one place. But I couldn’t stand the same frame after frame with the same lighting as they used it on repeat. Probably the worst acting Hardy has ever done,” added another.

Locke is available to stream on Amazon Prime via Lionsgate