Directed by:
Grant SingerCinematography:
Mike GioulakisComposer:
Yair Elazar GlotmanCast:
Benicio Del Toro, Alicia Silverstone, Justin Timberlake, Frances Fisher, Eric Bogosian, Michael Pitt, Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Karl Glusman (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
A hardened small-town detective uncovers a complex web of deception as he digs for the truth behind the brutal murder of a young real estate agent. (Netflix)
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Reviews (10)
How is it possible for a filmmaker to make such a high-brow thriller on their directorial debut? How?! Reptile is, after all, a masterpiece slowburn thriller with a first-rate, suffocating and perfect atmosphere dealing with the murder of a young stockbroker, but the deeper the detective gets into the investigation, the more drastically his view of the whole case changes, as does his character. The paranoid hallucinations, the nerve-wracking personality transformation and the chilling way he delves deeper into the case make this film, which appears at first and throughout the first half to be an ordinary whodunit, a thriller drama that gradually burrows deep under the viewer's skin, stirring up incredible emotions and an incredulous curiosity as to what will happen next. The case becomes far more complicated than it first appears and shows that this is definitely not an ordinary murder, but a much, much bigger intrigue. I had a great time in the second half, the film won me over completely to its side, and I have to say that if there had been a slightly more literal showdown and final "explanation" at the end, I probably would have been ready for a full score. As it is, the you have to make a little bit of an assumption. Though in the end, it may not even be a flaw. Excellent, chilling, suffocating and Benicio Del Toro proves again and again that he is a god in his own right, as he showed in Sicario. Excellent.
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Perfect craftsmanship. A mix of intricate crime drama like Mystic River and gloomy atmosphere in the style of the recent The Little Things with Denzel Washington, but with a much more interesting script and a fantastic cast. The experience isn't in the twist or the story's outcome, which is predictable and there’s no really big surprise in store. The key is the style of the storytelling, the direction and the work of the editor, who has a great sense of composition and masterfully mixes some of the sound and image structures into unique units. For what is essentially a directorial debut, hats off.
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The first half is a fine Scandinavian-style crime drama, including a sadistic murder, the chilly autumn weather and muted colours. And with one fantastic actor who I totally, totally love. Benicio Del Toro is walking charisma, he gets better the older he gets, and you can't take your eyes off his spare acting. The film loses its footing for a bit in the middle, and then it starts to get tangled and convoluted, and I'm not saying it's not good, but they lay their cards on the table too soon and lose the element of surprise. It's just not one step ahead of the viewer like a crime drama like this needs to be, and that's a shame. But for my beloved Bull, I'll give it 4*. P.S. Also excellent are the psychotic Michael Pitt and Justin Timberlake, with his vacant shark-eyed stare.
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A surprising gem from Netflix. A gritty crime drama with an outstanding Benicio in the lead. For a debut, it's an impressive effort. The chilling atmosphere feels straight out of a David Fincher film, and while it drags a bit in the middle, the finale is grounded and absolutely fantastic.
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It would be too much if Timberlake sang: “...to dreams for Goldilocks, just step forward...” Well-written characters make a big difference, as does the diverse musical accompaniment that contributes to the tension, along with the calm strength of the stubborn Benicio del Toro. Visually, he's starting to resemble Charles Bronson, although acting-wise it’s obviously a different league, even a different sport. Maybe he carries photos of Villeneuve and Fincher in his wallet, but Grant Singer’s confidence is impressive, and I see no reason not to spot five shed snake skins on the floor. There are never enough good crime thrillers from Maine. Correction: There are never enough good crime thrillers.
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