El muro negro

The premise had promise. The idea if being trapped inside a building by a wall that covered the building in an instant, trying to figure out how it got there, what it is, and how to get out, was intriguing. Unfortunately the dialogue was weak and in many cases unbelievable. In some cases I expected a person to react in one way, maybe with astonishment, but instead the reaction was hum drum as if this was an every day occurrence. In other circumstances certain people were full of bravado and a take charge attitude, but when they really needed to come through they did nothing. A 180 turn from their character. The movie is not bad enough to enjoy as a really bad movie, and it's not good enough to take it seriously or recommend it to a friend, unless they have nothing else to watch. It does have a few redeeming qualities. When you don't lose focus in the parts with bad dialogue, it's intriguing enough to watch till the end.

I like science fiction movies, so when I saw Netflix was releasing Brick, a film where people get mysteriously trapped in their apartments, I was immediately intrigued. Add Matthias Schweighöfer to the mix and I was in. (Fun fact: I didn't know he was German, but the last name should've tipped me off.)

The premise is cool: Tim (Schweighöfer) and his girlfriend Olivia (played by Ruby O. Fee) suddenly find themselves sealed inside their home by strange walls. They can't get out, but they can break through floors and walls into neighboring apartments. That's how they meet others in the same situation and form a group determined to escape.

The concept is strong, and I'll admit: I wanted to know what would happen next. There's suspense, tension, and a mysterious "end-of-the-world" atmosphere that kept me engaged. But... it's far from perfect.

Each character is given a brief backstory, but then when they die, it often feels pointless. Their background doesn't really feed into the story, and I was left wondering why the film spent time introducing it in the first place.

And while some moments are truly tense, others are unintentionally funny or just poorly written. A woman stuck halfway inside a wall? It's supposed to be horrific, but comes off as bizarre slapstick. A supposed villain taped to a chair escapes like it's a magic trick, which breaks the tension instead of building it.

There are also logic issues. One guy, who lost his hands, somehow figured out how to open part of the wall using advanced tech he shouldn't have access to. It's never explained. Plot holes like these hurt the believability, and that's especially annoying in a film that wants to be taken seriously.

Working in building maintenance myself, I also couldn't help but notice: the way the apartments are structured (with everyone able to break through floors so conveniently) is completely unrealistic. It took me out of the experience more than once.

That said, the ending was strong. Dark, grim, and oddly satisfying. It fit the tone of the story and didn't try to sugarcoat anything. I respect that.

So why a 6/10? Because despite the flaws, Brick does keep you watching. It's an original idea with a solid atmosphere and decent performances. But with lazy writing in key moments and too many logical gaps, it falls short of being the smart, grounded sci-fi it wants to be.

Brick is a classic example of a film with a fascinating concept but frustrating execution. Visually and thematically, it promises a lot; a surreal urban prison, mysterious walls, and hints of deeper societal metaphors. The creativity is undeniable, and the premise alone earns some respect. Unfortunately, that's where the praise ends. The flow is muddled, the plot is meandering, and any emotional resonance falls completely flat. It is as if the movie wanted to be some sort of sci-fi thriller, but shifted into almost a drama. It is confusing, and not focused on the plot itself.

It leaves you more detached than intrigued. Once the credits roll, there's little desire to revisit; simply because it is unsatisfying. A wasted opportunity wrapped in a high-concept shell.

I liked it. The premise is original, and if you can overlook the several gaps in the logic of the story, you'll have a pretty fine scifi thriller. There's a good pace, with some nice jump scares and some modest violence. The various residents are sufficiently different, with each their own background, so that you can care for them. The way the main characters gradually found out how to operate the walls was cleverly done, and together with a few plot twists, it kept me entertained till the end. Maybe that ending wasn't too convincing, but the CGI of it was visually pretty impressive. The acting was overall good, I especially liked Matthias Schweighöfer, with his sturdy kind of charm.

I'm a bit surprised at the number of one-star reviews for this film. "Bad acting," "Dumb script," etc. I actually thought this was the time of storyline that Rod Serling would have written for a Twilight Zone episode and certainly intriguing enough to hold my attention throughout. The story centers on the husband and wife whose relationship is now in ruins. The other characters suffer from lack of development. I'm wondering if some viewers watched this film in the dubbed version -- where the English speaking dubbers are indeed bad and the translations awkward. I watched the subtitled version and I so no problems at all with the acting. Certainly the basic plot arc is not original -- it is similar to films like Saw, Escape Room, Cube and even Poseidon Adventure: characters must work together in order to escape and survive. But I found the film atmospheric and engaging. Granted the whole creation of the impenetrable wall and what has caused it is far fetched, but so what. There is also in interesting visual correlative throw in -- the fly. I wish there had been more visual moments like this, but just sit back and enjoy a "Twilight Zone" style story.