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.

Mike Jackman Mr. Bricks starts out with a bang and doesn't let up! A passion project from all involved, it's a different kind of horror/musical that leaves the viewer in a daze after watching! It invokes feelings of sadness, disgust and even excitement. That's what a good film is supposed to do! Even as someone who isn't typically a fan of this kind of music I found myself enjoying the songs and eventually humming along to them! Tim Dax (Mr. Bricks) is someone to look out for. I recently saw him featured in a Steven Tyler music video!Give Mr. Bricks a shot and support this creative team for their future endeavors!

loogenhausen If you enjoyed Repo! The Genetic Opera or the Rocky Horror Picture Show you're going to love Mr. Bricks. This movie has pretty much everything you need in an independent film: love, murder, revenge, sex and musical numbers! No, it is not for everyone, but if you crave originality and passion from the movies you watch, Mr. Bricks has that in spades. With catchy hard-hitting songs that would make Henry Rollins himself proud, this is a take-no-prisoners attitude to filmmaking that doesn't let up until the end.Come for the inspired music and the crazy tattooed Mr. Bricks, played by Tim Dax, and stay for the gleefully violent and over the top revenge story that even has a little twinge of bittersweet to it.Highly stylized and instantly memorable, Mr. Bricks will stick with you long after the credits roll.