Brick is a tense German thriller with a sci-fi twist. The film starts out as a dramatic piece about a couple who have faced some challenges in recent years. However, when a mysterious anomaly turns their apartment into a high-stakes escape room, they scramble to find out what exactly is going on. Initially, this couple appears to have enough on their plate as they navigate grief in their own unique ways. But when their entire apartment building is surrounded by ominous black bricks in bizarre shapes and formations, they begin to turn outward to solve their problems. Together with a handful of neighbors, Tim (Matthias Schweighöfer) and Olivia (Ruby O. Fee) struggle to find a way out.
Brick Benefits From Impressive Visuals & Strong Performances

Alongside a wonderful cast, the film delivers a compelling and dramatic narrative with a touch of sci-fi magic. More than the actual plot, the dynamics between the characters define Brick and give it weight and gravitas that make it stand out.

The way new characters are introduced, and the distinctly different personalities that clash together also make for an interesting study.

Additionally, the visuals and set design throughout are spectacular, with beautifully cinematic shots of fairly ordinary settings, such as a range of apartments decorated uniquely to reflect the tenants that occupy those spaces. This leads to a feature that is gripping and also visually stunning from start to finish.
The way new characters are introduced, and the distinctly different personalities that clash together, also make for an interesting study as people from wildly different worlds are thrust into a situation where they must rely on one another. This results in a stunning and entertaining thriller.
Brick Feels Slightly Constrained Due To The Simple Plot

Simplicity is key in Brick, with the movie’s core revolving around a simple idea. What if an entire building was under lockdown, and the mismatched neighbors had to work together? However, it’s restricted in its approach because the entire mystery becomes an all-consuming narrative.

The film feels like it’s missing an essential development to further connect with the heroes of the piece.

For a mystery thriller, this isn’t an issue, but Brick’s most engaging elements are the characters at the core of the story. While the mystery is eventually resolved, the film feels like it’s missing an essential part to further connect the heroes with the story and its themes. Brick is effective in setting up a mystery, creating tension and urgency, and resolving the narrative. However, the characters who populate the story prove deeply fascinating, and as interesting as the mysterious brick wall is, the core characters, who are generally great, are slightly underdeveloped. Brick is still a gripping thriller. It’s well-made, but there is something lacking overall that could have been made better by diving deeper into the relationships of the central characters.

Brick

7/10

Release Date

July 10, 2025

Runtime

99 minutes

Director

Philip Koch

Writers

Philip Koch

Producers

Max Wiedemann, Quirin Berg, Katrin Goetter

Pros & Cons

The acting all around is exceptional.
The mystery plot is well laid-out and resolved.

The characters could have been explored further.
The plot is ultimately underwhelming.