A solid crime drama with an excellent ensemble cast
Reptile is Netflix’s latest crime thriller to hit the platform, from first time director Grant Singer, who makes the step up from music videos to movies and is backed up by an all star cast, including Benicio Del Toro and Justin Timberlake.
The plot sees Detective Tom Nichols (Del Toro) investigate the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, but nothing in the case is what it initially seems, and he must navigate his own difficult past if he is to solve the case.
This isn’t your typical throwaway crime piece, with a very intricate plot that has you really concentrate or be lost in its many diversions. It’s also not an instant classic, but somewhere in the middle is a very respectable return for your monthly subscription. Alicia Silverstone turns up in a rare performance as Nichol’s feisty wife, Judy, which is a million miles away from her 90s-type casting, and she nearly steals the show.
Singer shows some real signs of being a very good director, with some interesting buildup work, and quirky camera work, but unfortunately, the movie falls short of the crime dramas it’s trying to emulate. The story becomes too convoluted as it progresses past the halfway mark, into a bit of a rambling mess. With a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes, it goes on about 40 minutes too long, failing to deliver on all the plot strands it set up in the impressive first half hour.
Benicio Del Toro is a tour de force who elevates the movie to a higher level than it has any right to be at, but the plot twists are a bit confusing and not overly convincing. Look out for Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door featuring in the final scene, in an excellent use of music to end the story.
Read More: Reptile Ending Explained
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Verdict - 7/10
7/10