Netflix’s ‘Brick’ Offers a Tedious Locked-Room Mystery

BERLIN, Germany — Netflix’s latest original film, the German-language techno-thriller “Brick,” dives into the locked-room mystery genre with high hopes but falters in execution. The movie features a couple, Tim and Liv, played by actors who navigate a puzzling situation that threatens their lives.

The story revolves around Tim, a video game developer, and Liv, who is on the brink of leaving him due to their unresolved grief over a past pregnancy loss. As Liv attempts to exit their cramped apartment, they find the door leads to a strange wall made of irregular, black bricks rather than the hallway.

The couple soon discovers the bricks are magnetic and indestructible, trapping them inside a building with no water or cell service. Time becomes of the essence as they realize they could starve in just a few days. To escape, they must work with their unfamiliar neighbors, including a drug-addicted man and his girlfriend, a grandfather-granddaughter duo, and a conspiracy theorist cop.

The film’s writer-director, Philip Koch, invests energy in capturing their collective struggles to break free, employing dynamic camera work as they make holes in the walls. However, the characters lack depth and intrigue, failing to engage the audience adequately.

As tensions rise among the cast, the film attempts to explore themes of reconciliation and human nature in life-or-death scenarios. Yet, many moments feel predictable, marred by lengthy and clunky dialogue. The film skirts thrilling potential, opting instead for a restrained presentation that minimizes the violence one might expect from such a premise.

Despite some interesting ideas, “Brick” falls short of delivering compelling thrills and relies heavily on tired tropes within the thriller genre. In its pursuit of creating a gripping experience, it ultimately leaves viewers feeling unsatisfied, resembling more of a bland suspense film than a true horror experience.

Running 99 minutes and rated R, “Brick” is now streaming on Netflix, offering a rather underwhelming addition to the catalog of locked-room thrillers.