Writer / director Sabrina Greco‘s “Lockjaw” has a promising premise, but it never fully delivers. With boring characters and a painfully slow pace, this film simply doesn’t work well.
The film centers on Rayna (Blu Hunt), a woman who is trying to move on with her life six weeks after a drunk driving accident left her jaw wired shut. Her first night back out with friends should be a moment of fun, but it quickly turns into a frustrating, repetitive spiral of party hopping and strained relationships. To make things worse, Rayna promised her boyfriend Mitch (Colin Burgess) that she wouldn’t drink, but her restlessness and emotional baggage push her to make reckless decisions: none of which seem to get her any closer to dealing with her issues.
The film’s biggest problem is the lack of clear communication between the characters. It feels like everyone is walking around in circles, saying things they don’t mean or not saying things they really should be saying. Rayna’s interactions with those around her (especially Mitch) are fraught with tension, but none of it feels satisfying or genuine. Instead, any conflict comes across as forced as the story seems to repeat the same emotional beats without offering anything new or engaging. It’s not a bad hook to show a character struggling with her self-imposed restrictions while trying to have a good time, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
The party scenes are too chaotic, making them feel like boring and unimaginative filler. Even the eccentric, artistic setting, which could offer some potential for interesting moments, is just too quirky and tiresome. Instead of diving deeper into Rayna’s emotional journey, the film spends too much time lingering in awkward, unsatisfying moments that ultimately contribute little to the character’s growth or the plot.
The humor also falls flat. What’s clearly intended to be funny mostly comes off as forced or uncomfortable, leaving you feeling more frustrated than entertained. It’s not exactly a good time to watch a group of people dance around their issues without ever confronting them head-on.
Overall, “Lockjaw” doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. It could have been a compelling exploration of self-doubt, addiction, and relationship struggles. Instead, it gets lost in its own repetitive narrative and lacks the emotional payoff it promises. It’s a decent concept that doesn’t come together, making it more of a frustrating watch than anything else.
