Grant Singer’s feature-film directorial debut “Reptile” is a compelling, yet convoluted tale of murder. The rated R Netflix Original follows veteran detective Tom Nichols, who is portrayed brilliantly by Benicio del Toro, as he attempts to uncover the truth behind the murder of a young real estate agent Summer Elswick, portrayed by Matilda Lutz. During this investigation, Nichols encounters many twists and turns, and finds his whole world constricting in on him with every new discovery.
The film is beautifully shot with a stylish and dark cinematography, often transitioning from scenic wide-angle shots of crime scenes to gritty close ups of del Toro. The colors of each set also play a crucial role in the film, as each scene has a particular color that stands out and both correlates with the mood and reveals clues.
The movie itself is morose in its tone, and this emotion is conveyed throughout the film’s entirety. Del Toro’s portrayal of Nichols is easily the highlight of this film, as it believably illustrates the many struggles a detective faces during an investigation, and in every shot he is in, he steals the scene with his performance. The relationships he has in the film feel real, especially the relationship with his wife Judy, played by Alicia Silverstone.
The movie itself does not portray anything different from the typical whodunit, and the plot itself is convoluted. Throughout the story, numerous potential suspects are investigated, and it feels like many of these investigations are pointless as they are only really addressed once and then seemingly forgotten about. This is not a big deal in the beginning of the film, as crimes usually have a multitude of suspects, however, this remains the case until the last 15 minutes in which everything is revealed all at once.
One weak point in the plot is the use of Justin Timberlake’s character Will Grady, the boyfriend of the murdered real-estate agent. In the beginning of the film, he is the one who discovers the murder, which makes it seem like he will play an active role throughout the entirety of the film, which he does, for the first half. Then, for some reason, his character seems to vanish halfway through the story, and he does not appear until the last few moments of the film, which is a shame because his performance is so captivating.
The ending is easily the weakest portion of the film. Hours of build up and anticipation are thrown out in a resolution that lasts only minutes. The complex plot being concluded in such a short span makes the payoff feel underwhelming, and the film would have benefited greatly if the climax had been extended.
Overall, “Reptile” is a solid detective story with an anti-climactic ending. The film provides the audience with great acting and engaging cinematography, which makes it an enjoyable watch. Though it may have several flaws, I definitely recommend it, especially if you are a fan of the genre and del Toro.
