Netflix's new psychological thriller movie is a twisted puzzle box with a mostly satisfying solution
The original streaming movie sees a troubled couple trapped in their apartment building when a mysterious (and vaguely sinister-looking) brick wall appears overnight, locking them in with seemingly no means of escape. Does that premise sound compelling to you? Then you'll probably enjoy the German movie enough to want to see this puzzle box thriller through to the very end.
See, the thing about 'Brick' is that it's constructed on a pretty shaky foundation, with hammy dialogue, soap opera-level performances and such a lack of subtly that it suggests the filmmakers think the average Netflix subscriber has the media literacy of a middle schooler (though based on what often surfaces at the top of the Netflix top 10 most-watched list, they might have a point there).
However, despite its many fundamental flaws, I found the need for answers, to understand why this strange wall appeared, and how the protagonists might break through this impenetrable barrier, a compelling enough reason to tolerate, if not forgive, its numerous sins. That things are wrapped up in a largely satisfying way helps make the issues feel like bumps rather than blocks.
Curious to know more? Let's dive into everything you need to know about 'Brick' and why I think this new Netflix thriller makes an acceptable case for itself. Even if the case certainly isn't as sturdy as a professionally laid brick wall.
Tim (Matthias Schweighöfer) and Olivia (Ruby O. Fee) are a couple on the verge of breaking up following a trauma that has created a barrier between them.
But any plans to go their separate ways are quickly halted when, overnight, an unexplained and impenetrable brick wall forms around their Hamburg apartment. Managing to make contact with their neighbors, they discover it's not just their unit encased either; the whole building has been trapped.
With no choice but to tunnel down into lower apartments, they soon assemble a ragtag crew of survivors and try to solve the mystery of the wall, but most importantly, find a way to break free before they lose their battle for survival.
However, while the wall has locked them away from outside forces, not everybody within the building can be trusted. As the situation escalates, the survivors start to realize that the most dangerous enemies might just be locked in the apartment complex alongside them.
Cards on the table, 'Brick' might be one of the least subtle movies I've ever watched. Now, I don't exactly need every movie to be offering ocean-deep levels of subtext, but 'Brick' sure doesn't trust its audience to figure out pretty much anything for themselves.
Lead character Tim is trapped in his grief over a past trauma, before being literally trapped in his apartment by the strange brick wall. It's not exactly symbolism that requires a master's degree in film studies to figure out.
Don't worry if you missed the painfully obvious clues either, 'Brick' literally spells things out for you in a heated dialogue exchange around two-thirds of the way through. And this over-explaining approach is a constant annoyance. Sometimes it's better to let viewers work this stuff out for themselves.
Speaking of dialogue exchanges, you'd best prepare yourself now for some eye-rolling ones. When trying to figure out who (or what) could be responsible for the wall that has enclosed them, one character suggests it could be aliens because they 'saw some UFO videos on TikTok,' and let me tell you my groan at this hammy line was so loud no impenetrable barrier could have muted it.
At this stage, you might be thinking I completely loathed 'Brick,' and while it's no candidate for the best Netflix movie of the year, or even of the summer season, there's something about it that kept my attention until the final, surprisingly effective, moment (the closing shot is novel, even if it sports truly awful green-screen CGI). That is largely because the desire for answers burns just as brightly in you as a viewer as it does in the characters on screen.
The puzzle box nature of the central setup is engaging. It's referred to as an "escape room" by multiple characters, and the inherent mystery of the situation is one that I enjoyed unravelling, or at least trying to unravel before the movie completely spelled out the answers to me.
It also helps that Tim and Olivia very quickly make contact with fellow trapped residents in the apartment blocks, which adds some much-needed spice to their otherwise dull dynamic.
I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of a protective grandfather (Axel Werner) and his young granddaughter (Sira-Anna Faal). These two side characters add some heart, and I found myself hoping both would survive the ordeal minutes after meeting them.
Plus, for viewers who want a thriller where the stakes are constantly raised, 'Brick' will certainly suffice. The concept of being trapped in an apartment block by a strange wall probably would have been enough to sustain a whole movie, but 'Brick' goes further, adding more immediate antagonists to the mixture and even incorporating murder to keep you on your toes.
So while 'Brick' has a large share of issues, and I haven't even touched on the saggy middle portion (shaving 10 or so minutes off the second act would have done wonders for the pacing), there's enough general intrigue to keep you invested until the end. But seriously, whoever wrote that TikTok line should have their screenwriters guild card revoked for at least a few months.
If 'Brick' were a full theatrical movie, I certainly wouldn't advise rushing out to your local multiplex and coughing up the increasingly pricey sums for a cinema ticket and snacks, but in the streaming game, where the barrier to entry is much lower, I can just about recommend you give it a shot. But don't mistake that for a ringing endorsement, as noted, there are big issues here.
After being intrigued by the movie's initial trailer, my increased expectations weren't close to being met, but after accepting that the all-too-apparent flaws weren't going away around midway through, I was able to strap myself in for the ride and get absorbed in the largely compelling central mystery.
After streaming it, I was undoubtedly left with a sense of unfulfilled potential because with stronger direction, better writing, and a willingness to trust its viewers more, 'Brick' could have been something pretty special. Instead, it's ultimately a very pedestrian psychological thriller with just enough to keep you hooked, but certainly not enough merit to be in any way memorable.
Alternatively, if you want a movie that will stick with you longer than the time it takes to watch, here's a guide to all the new Netflix movies this month with at least 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Here you can find some masterpieces, if a mid-movie like "Brick" doesn't hold enough appeal to fill your precious free time.
And for even more streaming recommendations, we've also got a full guide to everything new on Netflix in July 2025, which includes movies and TV shows.
Watch "Brick" on Netflix now
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Right now, the best TV we're recommending for Prime Day 2025 is the LG C5 OLED, which has received an impressive 33% discount down to $1796 for Amazon's sales event. We called it a "truly special" TV in our 5-star LG C5 OLED TV review.
If that's going to break the bank, Amazon has TV bargains to suit practically every budget available now, for a limited time only.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'KPop Demon Hunters' is a global Netflix sensation. It has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. So, why haven't you watched it yet?
They have one of the most-watched movies in the world on Netflix and the highest-debuting movie soundtrack of 2025. Oh, and they're animated characters. Meet Rumi, Mira and Zoey, a fictional female K-pop trio better known as Huntr/x, who are the stars of Netflix's animated summer sensation, KPop Demon Hunters. Since its June 20 release, the movie has slayed the pop culture conversation, inspired countless fan art and memes, dominated streaming and music playlists — and there's no sign of losing steam. The Sony Pictures Animation movie follows Huntr/x, whose members secretly moonlight as demon hunters tasked to maintain a magical barrier that protects humans from the dark underworld. Their singing voices keep the worlds sealed off from each other, but a rival demon boy group, the Saja Boys, threatens to suck people's souls dry and weaken the barrier in order to infiltrate the human realm. Currently No. 2 on Netflix's list of most-streamed movies globally, with nearly 94 million hours viewed, KPop Demon Hunters has notched a 95% critics rating and an equally impressive 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The soundtrack rocketed to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in its second week of release, making it the highest-charting soundtrack of the year. Its original songs have topped the U.S. Spotify chart, surpassing previous peaks set by K-pop superstar groups BTS and Blackpink. Real-life K-pop idols have taken notice too, with some participating in dance challenges on TikTok, producing music-video-quality song covers and praising the movie on social media. Netflix is submitting the KPop Demon Hunters power anthem 'Golden' for awards consideration, releasing it as an official single on July 4. 'It's incredible to see a movie that is about connection actually connecting people,' Maggie Kang, codirector and cowriter of KPop Demon Hunters, tells Yahoo of the 'whirlwind' response. She and KPop Demon Hunters codirector-cowriter Chris Appelhans have seen proof that the movie is striking a chord among all demographics, from mothers and daughters to K-pop newbies to 'gym bros.' Many are already calling for a sequel. 'We always felt like the movie has such a bigger audience than the title implies,' Appelhans tells Yahoo. 'If you love music, if you like identity stories [and] if you like to laugh, those are such broad and appealing things [that the movie offers].' One of the biggest draws of KPop Demon Hunters is the vibrant, pop-art animation style that Sony Pictures Animation — the studio behind the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movies — has become known for. From a punchier color palette to anime-inspired character designs, the movie is a feast for the eyes. Marissa Yonamine, who reviews movies on TikTok, was initially drawn to the film because of Sony Pictures Animation's 'great track record,' citing the studio's past successes The Mitchells vs. the Machines and the Spider-Verse films. 'That gave it credibility,' Yonamine tells Yahoo. 'Immediately, I fell in love with it.' It also helps that the animation amplifies what the characters are going through internally as the story unfolds — a key point in the development of the plot and the overall look of the movie. Appelhans says it goes hand in hand with creating 'great characters, stories, personalities and entertainment value, and also [including their] struggle, pain and wants. And that dovetails so well with the music.' 'It was a very intricate puzzle that we had to put together because there's so much variety [in the scenes],' Kang says. 'OK, we need the music to do this. They need music scenes to be music videos. They need the comedy to do this. I feel very proud that we were able to achieve what we wanted for each scene, whether it's comedy or emotional or visual.' Stylistically, the film is 'a breath of fresh air from an animation perspective,' Crystal Bell, digital culture editor at Mashable and a K-pop expert, tells Yahoo — 'the expressiveness of the characters, the way that Zoey's eyes turn into hearts or burst into popcorn when she gets too hot. I love those little details that feel so specific to the visual language of this film that maybe others aren't [doing].' In an early scene, the Huntr/x girls bump into the Saja Boys and hear the group's bubbly, crowd-pleasing 'Soda Pop' for the first time. After fighting off the urge to groove to the beat, Rumi begrudgingly admits, 'It is annoyingly catchy.' And in another equally addictive song, the sinister 'Your Idol,' the Saja Boys exert their power over the fans as they confidently sing, 'Your obsession feeds our connection, so right now give me all your attention.' It's a sentiment that fans — K-pop lovers and nonlisteners alike — have obeyed of the soundtrack's seven original tracks, all of which have landed on the Billboard Hot 100. The team recruited proven K-pop hitmakers such as Teddy and Ejae (who provides the singing voice for Rumi), whose credits include writing and producing songs for artists like BigBang, Psy, Blackpink, Aespa and Red Velvet, to help shape the songs. Members from K-pop sensation Twice added street cred when they lent their talents to a track as well. 'That was our goal: Could we make a fictional but very real-feeling idol group? That was the bar,' Kang says. 'We just wanted it to feel very authentically K-pop so that our groups can slide into the industry and stand on their own. It definitely feels like we've done that.' Their creative risk-taking paid off. 'Some of the songs on the soundtrack are the best K-pop songs released this year so far,' Bell says. She pointed to 'Soda Pop' as a prime example of good timing and perfect execution converging to create the ideal summer song. 'K-pop is very seasonal,' Bell says. 'Every season brings a different tone to an artist's release, so there's a definite spring, summer sound. The fact that this song from a fictional boy group captured that summer sound that a traditional boy group would release is just perfect.' Outside of being addictive earworms, the songs also push the narrative forward, heightening the emotional stakes and adding to their appeal. 'Golden' drops at a crucial turning point in the movie for Huntr/x, particularly Rumi, whose secret half-demon identity is unmasked just as the group is close to sealing off the demon world. 'A song like 'Golden,' it's an 'I Want' song, which a lot of great pop songs are. Those coming-of-age songs, where it's like, 'I started from nowhere, I was the loser and now I'm the king,' Appelhans explains, referencing early '00s Kanye West raps as an example of what he wanted to accomplish. 'It's so archetypal pop.' KPop Demon Hunters embraces K-pop for its ability to unite, from the bonds between members to the parasocial connection with fans — and 'threads the needle quite well between spectacle and sincerity,' Bell says. '[K-pop fans are] often celebrating the [genre's] stars as fantastic and glamorous, and also celebrating them offscreen. Like [Blackpink's] Lisa being goofy in a TikTok, you're like, 'Oh that's real — that's off-camera Lisa,'' Appelhans says. 'That duality is very satisfying.' That level of authenticity was something he and Kang wanted to lean into, hence the portrayals of Huntr/x (and, to a lesser extent, the Saja Boys) as fully formed characters with relatable mannerisms and imperfections rather than unattainable caricatures of pop stardom. 'I want weird girls who do stupid faces,' Kang explains of the trio. The movie also positively depicts K-pop fandoms as diverse, loyal and tight-knit, and the collective feeling of community that often comes with being unapologetically open about a shared interest. It equally emphasizes that music and fans of it can be impenetrable sources of good (as is the case with Huntr/x) or evil (Saja Boys). 'With any global phenomenon like the Beatles or other boy groups, there's always going to be fans who are 'obsessive' — and that's correct to a certain degree — but there are reasons why they gravitate to those art forms or groups,' Yonamine suggests. '[They] speak to them on another level and they feel seen through the music.' 'I'm glad that KPop Demon Hunters is able to humanize and be able to give a reason to why fans love [K-pop] so much,' she says. Toni Hopkins, a filmmaker who reviews movies on TikTok, was already a K-pop fan when she dove into KPop Demon Hunters at a friend's suggestion. Since then, she's listened to the soundtrack 'nonstop,' appreciating many of the film's inside jokes and critiques about K-pop practices and K-drama conventions. (There are subtle critiques of idol diets, relentless schedules and the life-and-death pressures of maintaining success.) Hopkins says it's made her 'want to dive into that world more.' K-pop artists like BTS, Enhypen, Monsta X, Zerobaseone and Exo's Baekhyun have all tipped their cap to the movie on social media and at their own concerts, adding legitimacy to the movie's depiction of what it's like to be an artist today. 'It is a huge compliment that the K-pop industry is seeing it and recognizing it,' Kang said, 'and even Twice saying this was a great representation of what their lives are.' Original animated films have struggled mightily to gain traction in recent years, with studios like Pixar and Disney relying on sequels or live-action remakes in order to make a dent at the box office. It's left a gap that KPop Demon Hunters has unexpectedly filled, proving there's an appetite for bold, fearless stories if done well. 'A lot of shows and movies that come out nowadays are missing a soul or a heartbeat, and you can feel it in this movie,' Rachel Ruff Cuyler, a filmmaker and content creator, tells Yahoo. It's evident 'the cast and crew had fun making it,' which she says comes across onscreen. And a movie about a group of demon-slaying huntresses who use their K-pop personas as covers has a lot more depth than you would expect. Rooted in Korean culture and mythology, and primarily set in Seoul, KPop Demon Hunters delves into themes that are very much universal, from generational trauma and self-acceptance to overcoming shame and embracing one's true identity. 'We're seeing women being portrayed as feminine while still being badasses. It doesn't need to be one or the other. You can have both,' Hopkins says. 'I think that's why it's refreshing to see them act goofy and crazy and silly, but still be these beautiful, defined stars.' Despite having a runtime of under 100 minutes, KPop Demon Hunters has taken on a life of its own through fan art, video mash-ups and fan theories about what a potential sequel could entail. 'Chris and I joke that they're writing the next movie,' Kang says of the robust chatter, noting that fans are even posting comics and storyboards online. 'It's just getting bigger and bigger by the day,' she adds. 'We don't normally see new [intellectual property] doing this. 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The Hill
5 hours ago
- The Hill
‘Tiger King' Joe Exotic seeking Trump pardon
Jailed reality TV star Joe Exotic is once again asking President Trump for a pardon. Netflix's 'Tiger King' star, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado, called on Trump 'to listen to the voice[s] of' Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and other public figures as well as 'the millions of people around the world to make this right and allow me to go home.' Earlier this year, Boebert signaled she supported a pardon of Maldonado, who was sentenced in January 2020 to a 22-year prison sentence over a murder-for-hire plot against animal rights activist Carole Baskin. Maldonado first asked for a pardon during Trump's first term, sending a handwritten letter to the White House in September 2020. The president, at the time, said he would 'take a look.' Then, in 2021, during former President Biden's term, he asked again and found no success. Maldonado railed against Biden earlier this after the outgoing president provided blanket pardons to some of his family member. 'If I was a crack dealer, maybe if I broke in the capital [sic] or even have been related to the Bidens. I might have gotten some relief on being in prison innocent,' he said in January. He also slammed Trump this spring after the president pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley's tax evasion and fraud charges. 'This officially shows the Justice system is still two-sided. You are either rich and connected or your poor and being trafficked by the system,' Maldonado posted on Instagram on May 27. In this week's call for a pardon, Maldonado said an appeal for a new trial was denied.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Netflix's ‘Too Much' Is A Relatable Tale About Breaking Up In A Social Media World
Lena Dunham's new Netflix rom-com Too Much, which she co-created with her husband, Luis Felber, is a hopeful tale about losing love and finding it again. We've all been there before, in the throes of heartbreak from a love lost, which is painful as is, but breaking up has been made exponentially worse with the advent of social media. Especially, as in this story, when one person is reeling from the painful ending while the other person has seemingly and with ease moved on. The forlorn and broken-hearted are now tortured with watching an ex's new life unfold right on their phone. When she began writing this script, Dunham knew she wanted Megan Stalter to portray Jessica, a thirtysomething New Yorker who becomes obsessed with her ex's new girlfriend (played by Emily Ratajkowski) so much so that she makes daily videos talking to her. Dunham has clarified that though the story is loosely based on her relationship with Felber, its main character is not based on her, but rather feelings she has experienced in her own life. To escape her woes, Jessica takes a job in London, but as the old saying goes, wherever you go, there you are. Stalter was the perfect choice for this role with her immaculate sense of comedic timing. Stalter stole every scene she was in in the award-winning HBO Max series Hacks, and she brings the same level of dedication and deadpan-mixed-with-hysteria-hilarity to Jessica. Will Sharpe, who has proven himself to be a talented actor in hits such as HBO Max's The White Lotus and the Netflix gem Giri/Haji, brings a unique mix of humility, wit, and charm to Felix, a British rocker who is a walking red flag, yet you want him to get the girl. Though Jessica and Felix may at first seem to be an awkward pair, they soon prove that their love is the real deal. Stalter and Sharpe discussed why these two are such a great match in an interview before the show's July 10 premiere. 'I love that they're super different, but that they like each other's differences, because you see in Jessica's old relationship that they're different, but that they don't like or accept each other's differences. They're actually friends,' explained Stalter. 'They are open-minded about the weirder, messier aspects of each other,' added Sharpe. As for Jessica, her obsession with her ex and his new girlfriend led her to go as far as breaking into their apartment, which she once lived in with him. Stalter talked about the torture that comes with comparing ourselves to the woman who comes before or after us in relationships. For some, this is a way of trying to find the answers as to why things didn't work out. 'I had a lot of talks with Lena where I was like, 'Well, Jessica is so confident. So, it's interesting, this obsession.' But it doesn't matter how confident you are. You're always going to compare yourself while you're still heartbroken if someone moves on that quickly, because you're like, 'Why didn't it work out with me?' You take it personally. I think everyone has done that at some point, even if it was in high school.' Though the underlying feelings of heartbreak and comparison are relatable, most of us don't take things quite as far as Jessica does. In her case, she makes daily videos to the new girlfriend on her private social media account, which she accidentally makes public, and the videos go viral. When asked if men also torment themselves in this way, Sharpe jokingly tried to deny that they react in the same ways women do. 'Men are all supremely confident with no insecurities, so, yeah,' he laughed. Both confirm they immediately loved these characters upon first reading Dunham's scripts. 'I just thought, 'Wow, this is such a relatable person.' And even if she's doing something kind of crazy or off-putting, like breaking into her ex's house, you still understand and like her somehow. Lena just does such an amazing job writing characters that you love, even when they're having a breakdown, because they seem so real and they're endearing even when they're messing up,' said Stalter. 'I love the messiness of the characters and of the relationship, and how it wasn't overly simplistic, and it wasn't shy about the more challenging aspects of meeting someone and the way that the baggage from their previous relationships and their life experiences affects their present tense relationship in the story,' Sharpe expounded. 'And I loved that all of the characters have layers to unpack as the story goes on. It feels very Lena Dunham…very in her voice as well, which I loved when I first read it.' Dunham, who also served as writer, starred as Jessica's sister, and directed eight of the ten episodes, discussed Jessica's woes in an interview just before the show's premiere. 'I think the thing about writing this character was that I really wanted to lean into the idea that so often, especially in your thirties, you're comparing yourself to all these milestones that are around you, especially in the context of Instagram; the amount of people who are posting pictures of their houses and their babies and their lives…if you're a person who feels like you're a late bloomer, or maybe you created a life and then it collapsed, it can be very lonely. I wanted to show what it looked like for a woman to be starting over, and starting over with trepidation, but also with determination. And I really approached it from that angle first and then tried to bring in this male character of Felix and deepen him as the series went on.' About those Instagram videos Jessica makes talking to the ex's new girlfriend, Dunham wrote a scene where the two women meet and actually like one another. 'I was thinking about the way that so often, you're not even in an obsessive relationship with your ex. You're in an obsessive relationship with your idea about what your ex's new life looks like, and this person who comes after you takes on this form of almost a terrifying apparition, and you're projecting so much onto them. And so it felt interesting to me, the idea that especially in this lonely moment in her life, that person becomes both an enemy and a crutch for Jessica,' explained Dunham, recalling her own experience with this dynamic. 'The majority of the time that I am threatened by someone, what it actually means is there's something in them that I'm drawn to. And also, it makes perfect sense that two women who were attracted to the same person would also be attracted to something in each other. I loved the idea of these two women becoming allies in some way.' Dunham's clever writing and quirky yet relatable characters let viewers laugh at insecurities many of us have experienced. In the end, we're all too much for some, but when you find the right person, they will love you just as you are.
