In the new German film Brick, a couple awakens to find their apartment building inexplicably encased overnight by a mysterious, impenetrable wall. This high-concept premise, reminiscent of classic “puzzle box” stories, serves as the foundation for a science fiction thriller that has premiered on Netflix. Starring Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O. Fee, the film uses its claustrophobic setting to explore a relationship under extreme duress.
The Emotional Core Under Siege
At the heart of the narrative is the strained dynamic between Tim (Schweighöfer), a workaholic games programmer, and his partner Olivia (Fee), an architect. Their lives are shadowed by the past loss of a child, a trauma that has driven them apart. Tim has retreated into his work, while Olivia has made a desperate bid for a fresh start, quitting her job and buying a camper van for an escape they may never take. The sudden appearance of the physical wall acts as a stark metaphor for the emotional barriers they have constructed between themselves. The film’s most resonant moments are found in this human drama, amplified by the fact that Schweighöfer and Fee are partners in real life. Their authentic chemistry grounds the story, lending a palpable realism to their characters’ interactions, particularly in an explosive argument scene noted for its authenticity.
An Ensemble of Captives
The story expands beyond the central couple as they smash through walls and floors, encountering their neighbors and forming a reluctant community of survivors. The ensemble represents a spectrum of reactions to the crisis. Frederick Lau and Salber Lee Williams portray a couple who provide moments of comic relief, theorizing they are in a “twisted escape room” from within their garish, neon-lit apartment. A more cautious perspective comes from an armed, elderly man (Axel Werner) trapped with his granddaughter (Sira-Anna Faal). The group is rounded out by a conspiracy-minded policeman (Murathan Muslu), who champions the idea that the wall is not a prison, but a form of protection from a greater catastrophe unfolding outside.
A Film Divided Against Itself
Brick is the singular vision of Philip Koch, who serves as writer, director, and producer. This unified creative control has resulted in a film that has sharply divided critical opinion, largely because it struggles to reconcile its two distinct halves: the intimate relationship drama and the overarching sci-fi mystery. While the dramatic elements centered on Tim and Olivia are often praised as the film’s strength, the thriller components have drawn criticism. Many reviews point to an underdeveloped mystery with incoherent character motivations and a rushed, unsatisfying conclusion. The pacing has been a particular point of contention, described by some as brisk and entertaining in the vein of a classic disaster movie, and by others as painfully dull and sluggish. The result is a film that feels muddled, prioritizing the couple’s emotional journey to the detriment of the suspenseful premise that contains it. Some assessments also note that the English-language dubbing may detract from the naturalism of the original German performances.
Production and Release
Brick is a German production from Leonine Studios, Nocturna Productions, and W&B Television. The film’s cinematography is by Alexander Fischerkoesen, with a score composed by Anna Drubich.
The movie was released on July 10, 2025.
