Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Love_Like_Blood_1992 Mr. Bricks: A Heavy Metal Murder Musical, directed by indie newcomer Travis Campbell and produced/distributed by cult hit-makers Troma Entertainment, may be deceiving on a first look. With a DVD cover that screams campy horror-comedy and a title that says just about as much, one might expect just another cheap-and-cheesy exploitation film, light on story and heavy on gore and bare breasts. Having gone into Mr. Bricks with exactly those expectations myself, I'm here to tell you that it's much more than that. That isn't to say it isn't funny--it has a sharp, witty sense of humor. That also isn't to say that it doesn't have its fair share of gore and bare breasts--it certainly does, although frankly less than one might expect. It is to say, however, that Mr. Bricks is a gritty, entertaining, surprisingly-deep revenge story that's guaranteed to take you by surprise.The story follows Mr. Bricks, a heavily-muscled tattooed madman, who wakes up with missing memories and a missing girlfriend after being shot in the head by a mysterious antagonist, and left for dead in his home. He takes it upon himself to look for Scarlet, his missing girlfriend, and to seek revenge on the man who shot him and, presumably, took her away. It may sound simple, but not everything is as it seems, and one twist after another keeps the story fresh and the pacing tight. I won't say anything more than that about the story, because it's really something worth seeing for yourself. Of course, we wouldn't have a musical without songs, and thankfully the musical numbers in Mr. Bricks are really what sets it apart from the rest of the pack. The primary style of song evokes mid-90s groove metal (eg. Pantera, Pissing Razors, Hatebreed,) although other styles are brought into the mix, including grindcore, Gothic rock, melodic hardcore and speed metal. The musical numbers are a real treat, and at times the songs lend themselves to a unique style of visual filmmaking more evocative of music videos than a typical film.The movie brings with it a gritty atmosphere and a unique visual style, which is heavily-stylized and expressionistic, making use of desaturated colors, a highly mobile and very expressive camera, some very interesting shot composition, and an interesting mix of no-frills practical effects and digital special effects (blood splatters!) put in just the right places. From the opening title sequence through to the very end, it's a film with a compelling aesthetic. The aesthetic, though, wouldn't matter without the riveting story and the great performances from Tim Dax (Mr. Bricks) and Nicola Fiore (Scarlet,) who keep the movie fresh and entertaining with their deft combinations of subtle emotion and over-the-top camp sensibilities, which are a perfect match for the film. Additionally, the film is surprisingly complex and subtle in the way it handles moral issues (murder, revenge, suicide) and questions about the human condition (sexuality, notions of justice,) which add a certain level of depth to the movie beyond what one might expect.Mr. Bricks: A Heavy Metal Murder Musical is an interesting, unique film which keeps things interesting by defying audience expectations and building a complex mystery with conflict that continues to grow throughout. It may not be a film to be taken seriously, but it's nonetheless surprisingly complex for a low-budget exploitation film that, in less-skilled hands, could have been decidedly less impressive. It's got a great look, a great deal of creative ambition, and a lot of effort put into it, and it clearly shows. It's absolutely worth a look.

Samantha Reid When I saw Mr. Bricks in the theatre the first time I have to admit I hated it, I did. Mr. Bricks got a horrible reception, the audience didn't get it, one, b/c I think it had the Troma brand name on it and they thought it would be a typical Troma affair and two, people didn't know what to expect from the tone. Then Troma sent me a screener to review (I don't think they realized I had seen it even though I talked to Lloyd face to face at the event) and I let the screener sit on top of my DVD player collecting dust for a good month.Then a bunch of my friends came over one night and one of them picked up the DVD and said what in the hell is this? I said don't waste your time. Eventually I was talked into watching it again, but this time the movie grew on me. Not only that, my friends (who are more metalheads than horror fans) really enjoyed it. I asked them why? They said it was refreshing to see a movie that wasn't poking fun at horror or the"grindhouse" movie genre but just told a simple story using a different style, and while rough around the edges Mr. Bricks wasn't trying to be something that it wasn't. They also thought the musical element was a really cool device because the songs pushed the story along without grinding the narrative to a halt.Then a light went on in my head, this movie is the definition of grindhouse and Troma! Mr. Bricks is something you watch with a bunch of friends on a Friday night while getting a pizza (or partaking in other party favors) and enjoy. Then again I also watch it as a pick-me up when I'm feeling down and I have ripped the songs and put them on my ipod.In the age of pop grindhouse where anybody can stick a "film grain" filter on their movie and call it a day, I must say it was refreshing to see something like Mr. Bricks. The movie IMHO is truer to the grindhouse sensibility in the fact that it doesn't try to emulate the current fad of trying to be a 70s/80s throwback for the sake of self reflection, or a nod-nod-wink-wink tongue in cheek poke at the audience, like "hey remember all the cool things you loved about the 80s and VHS well here's a funny reference to remind you of how cool that time period was!" Mr. Bricks is campy and dark and takes itself seriously (maybe too seriously at times) and that's what makes it original.As one reviewer on here wrote "it's harder to laugh at something that doesn't realize how bad it is. This is just an example of everything you shouldn't do to make a movie," really? So the movie makers were supposed to make something for the audience to laugh at, with a lot of references to the genre, like a cheap Tarantino knock-off? Since when do all movies of this genre have to be funny? That's the problem I think Mr. Bricks is up against. People get mad that's it's not funny and that's a damn shame.

Brian Morton The one thing that I truly love about Troma is that they support independent film unconditionally! Whether it's comedy, horror or something completely different, Troma will support and release it so we all have a chance to see it! And the something completely different is exactly what you get in their latest release, Mr. Bricks.Mr. Bricks is the story of Eugene Hicks, a big man who's on the wrong side of the law. When Hicks kidnaps a policewoman, he crosses a line that will change his life forever. First, he's shot in the head and survives, then, when he comes to, he begins his search for this woman who he loves...no matter what the cost! Mr. Bricks is a simple tale of love, betrayal and corruption, but it's told in such an unusual way that you won't be able to take your eyes off it. It's a "Heavy Metal Murder Musical"...and if those words don't make you think, then there's something wrong with you! Mr. Bricks is a strange movie, made stranger by it's topic...and then the icing on the cake is characters breaking into metal songs!!! It might sound too weird for you, but trust me, it works! I'm giving Mr. Bricks 3 out of 4 cigars, it's not going to be for everyone, but if you're experimental and want to see something wildly different, then check out Mr. Bricks!

marcusbones-301-937932 Pretty original independent feature that delivers all you'd expect after seeing the poster or trailer. I rather enjoyed this over-the-top revenge story set to lots of loud music and featuring a heavily tattooed muscle man as its central character. Tim Dax is hard to look away from when he's on screen, and is convincing enough when delivering his angry dialogue or beating up the bad guys. Also effective is the lovely Nicola Fiore in the female lead. Lots of blood and energy make up for the money that the movie clearly didn't have, and I found that the low budget more often added to the flavor than detracted from the quality. If the title sounds like that of something you'd want to watch, and if you're familiar with other Troma releases, there's probably a good chance you'd like this movie.