Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Men), Break is a cerebral, tightly-wound thriller that explores what happens when reality fractures—and a person’s only escape is through the very mind that's failing them. Blending psychological horror with science fiction and a hint of corporate espionage, this 2025 release is a slow-burn shocker that leaves you questioning everything.
Dr. Eliah Gray (played by Florence Pugh) is a brilliant neuroscientist testing a radical experimental therapy designed to “break” traumatic memory loops by simulating alternate realities inside the mind. But when she agrees to test it on herself—under pressure from a shadowy biotech firm—something goes wrong.
Instead of a clean mental “reset,” Eliah finds herself trapped in a recursive sequence of dreamlike simulations. In each loop, she wakes up in a slightly different version of her life: one where her brother is still alive, one where she’s the patient instead of the doctor, one where the company doesn’t exist at all. The boundaries between real and constructed memories begin to dissolve.
As her grip on reality deteriorates, Eliah must figure out who's manipulating her, and why—before her psyche splinters permanently.
Break dives deep into trauma, memory, identity, and the ethics of human experimentation. Garland directs with his signature tension—silent rooms, flickering lights, and slow, suffocating paranoia. It echoes the atmosphere of Black Mirror and Inception, but with a sharper emotional core.
The film explores the dangers of using technology to "fix" pain, asking: Is forgetting truly healing? Or is it another kind of death?
-
Florence Pugh is spellbinding, portraying Eliah with a mix of brilliance, vulnerability, and unraveling terror.
-
Rami Malek plays a morally ambiguous corporate executive, walking the line between savior and villain.
-
Kaitlyn Dever appears in a key supporting role as a version of Eliah's sister—her presence shifting meaning across realities.
Break is not a film for casual viewers. It’s layered, unnerving, and intellectually demanding—but deeply rewarding for those who follow it to the end. A haunting final act cements its status as a modern mind-bender destined for cult classic status.
