Title – Reptile (2023) 

Director – Grant Singer (feature debut)

Cast – Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Pitt

Plot – Tasked with uncovering the truth behind the vicious murder of a local real estate agent, detective Tom Nichols (Del Toro) begins to discover that the case will be anything but a straight forward investigation. 

“Shed the lies”

Review by Eddie on 10/10/2023

A familiar feeling and atmospheric detective thriller that is the exact type of Netflix original film we’ve come to expect from the streaming provider, as in a film with a solid premise, cast and budget largely wasted on so-so material and execution, Reptile may not be the worst offering of Netflix’s original film slate this year but it’s one that is undeniably forgettable and lacking in most instances. 

Directed by first time feature director Grant Singer, who has previously made a name for himself in the music video industry working with the likes of Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd and Lorde, Reptile is a visually pleasing and pretty to look at neo-noir feature that appears to be attempting to capture a David Fincher like vibe at all times but due to a relatively ho-hum central investigation, a slow and sometimes boorish pace, uninteresting and undeveloped characters and far too many loose ends and pointless story strands, Singer’s film can only ever briefly be considered a successful reincarnation of films that share its DNA. 

With it always a pleasure to watch the often relegated to supporting man duties Benicio Del Toro take the spotlight in a lead role, here playing the grizzled and charisma free Tom Nicholls, a hardened detective who is tasked with looking into the bloodthirsty murder of a local real estate agent who’s husband Will Grady (a miscast Justin Timberlake) doesn’t appear to be a squeaky clean citizen, Reptile does have some initially intriguing concepts and delivery aspects but most of that early enthusiasm to see where things are taking us gives way to a sense that our journey’s destination won’t be entirely worth the effort. 

As good as you could expect him to be working with not a lot thanks to a script Del Toro worked on alongside Singer and Benjamin Brewer, Del Toro valiantly attempts to bring gravitas to the tale of Nicholls investigation that includes support from Ato Essandoh as his fellow officer Dan Clearly, Alicia Silverstone as Nicholls long term wife Judy (a relationship in the film that never feels fully explored or explained) and the now rarely sighted Michael Pitt as potential murder suspect Eli Phillips but the esteemed actor can only help Singer’s film out so much as an increasing array of odd directional choices and narrative missteps often halt any momentum or wins the film finds, culminating in an underwhelming finale that will have many attuned viewers scratching their heads.  

With an incessantly consistent and overbearing score from composer Yair Elazar Glotman, plot holes that will linger longer in viewers memory than any other element of the film and a collection of workmanlike performances for one dimensional and cold characters, Reptile has all the mood in the world but little else, becoming nothing more than a pedestrian detective outing that pales in comparison to the films it imitates. 

Final Say –  

There are promising moments and elements to Netflix’s newest streaming hit Reptile but overall this polished production lacks heart, soul and a reason to care, making it a lacklustre offering that can be considered nothing more than a barely passable time filler. 

2 rogue Frisbee’s out of 5