Reptile: A Detective Story Unearths a Den of Deceit
A hardened detective, Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro), takes on the case of a murdered young real estate agent (Matilda Lutz). Suspects include the victim’s boyfriend, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), his influential mother (Frances Fisher), her ex-husband (Karl Glusman), and other shadowy figures. Tom is forced to confront the grim realities of his profession and uncovers a terrifying truth that not everyone wants revealed.
Benicio del Toro as Nichols in a scene from “Reptile”
Sometimes, a person’s expectations can become their biggest problem. Music video director Grant Singer, known for his work with The Weeknd and Sam Smith, chose to delve into the well-worn territory of murder mysteries for his feature film debut. Singer may have even envisioned a career trajectory similar to David Fincher’s (from Madonna to “Alien 3,” and beyond). While ambition is admirable, here it’s crushed under the weight of overconfidence, a bloated runtime, and a barrage of clichés that suffocate the film by its finale.
A Cop’s Descent into Darkness
Tom Nichols is a dedicated police officer in his hometown of Scarborough, Maine. He loves his wife, Judy (Alicia Silverstone), and enjoys spending evenings with colleagues and friends. His life is upended when Summer Elswick, a real estate agent selling homes in an upscale neighborhood, is murdered. Summer’s boyfriend, businessman Will Grady, appears genuinely shocked by the event. It soon emerges that the victim hadn’t received a single dollar from her sales. The authorities take a keen interest in the case, and Tom becomes obsessed with finding the culprit, growing disillusioned with everyone he knows along the way.
Alicia Silverstone as Judy Nichols in a scene from “Reptile”
“Reptile” clocks in at a hefty 2 hours and 15 minutes. During this time, Singer seems to forget the metaphor embedded in the title (basic, but still carefully woven into the script), populates the screen with disposable characters, and strains to justify the film’s artistic importance and its primetime slot on Netflix. It’s hard to fault the director’s ambition: he aimed to make a statement, flexed his music video sensibilities, and assembled a respected cast – but he forgot to turn off the stove and returned to smoldering embers.
Sky Ferreira as Renee in a scene from “Reptile”
Familiar Territory, Familiar Faces
The real estate setting initially feels fresh and intriguing, but within the first half-hour, the film is filled with slightly modernized references to “Chinatown,” “L.A. Confidential,” and “The Black Dahlia.” Benicio Del Toro bears the heavy burden of carrying this parade of clichés. The Oscar winner is, as usual, charismatic and deserves a film of higher caliber. His portrayal of Tom is that of a deeply conflicted cop grappling with questions of honor and integrity, but he can’t seem to catch the biggest culprit of all: the director. Silverstone is also a significant presence in “Reptile.” The “Clueless” star savors every line after a period of relative inactivity, and her character remains her husband’s only ally in a corrupt world. Timberlake plays a slimy version of himself, Michael Pitt makes a dreamy appearance, muttering unintelligible threats, and Eric Bogosian from “Uncut Gems” delivers a world-weary warning to Del Toro: run.
Final Verdict
While it might not be necessary to run from “Reptile” – the film has already topped Netflix’s list of popular new releases – it’s best to keep your skepticism close at hand. As a genre, noir continues to shed its skin without growing new. We’re better off sticking with the classics than indulging in an overstretched, glamorous imitation of great cinema.