Netflix’s newest sci-fi movie rockets to the top of streaming charts

Have you checked it out yet?

Hailing from Germany, the film stars Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of the Dead, Oppenheimer) and Ruby O. Fee (Army of Thieves) as a couple named Tim and Olivia whose relationship is on the rocks after a tragedy.

One morning, they awaken in their apartment to find themselves unable to leave due to strange black bricks blocking every possible exit and preventing any signal.

As panic and hunger begin to set in, the couple decide to drill through the floors of their apartment block in a bid to escape.

Recruiting fellow neighbours along their quest, the group slowly starts to piece together the origin of the mysterious bricks.

This is as they also realise that some of their new acquaintances might not be so trustworthy.

In our opinion, Brick has a great premise but suffers from uneven execution. 

In terms of the positives, the central idea of members of an apartment complex becoming trapped in their homes by a brick wall that seemingly emerged from nowhere is evocative and nightmarish.

It works well as a metaphor for the central couple's relationship. It's suggested that Tim sealed himself off emotionally from Olivia after their traumatic experience together.

But it also allows the apartment to become a microcosm for society: a group of strangers from different walks of life trapped together, depending on each other to survive.

That said, one-dimensional characters, some repetitive scenes and an increasingly muddled plot do detract from the effective on-paper allegory.

Despite our reservations, Brick reached the top spot on JustWatch's top 10 movie streaming chart for Ireland this week.

The film is available to watch on Netflix now.