‘Reptile’ Review: Netflix Procedural Thriller Is A Glimpse Into Murky Waters Marred By Formulaic Storytelling
29.09.2023 - 19:41
/ deadline.com
In the murky realms of Grant Singer’s Reptile, audiences delve into a tale woven with intrigue, and mystery. Penned by Singer, Benjamin Brewer, and Benicio Del Toro, the film attempts to entangle the viewer in a web of murder and corruption, manifesting through the gritty lens of a small-town investigation. Del Toro is flanked by supporting actors including Alicia Silverstone, Michael Pitt, Ato Essandoh, Justin Timberlake, Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Eric Bogosian, and Domenick Lombardozzi,. However, the atmospheric tension conjured by the film echoes of potential left unexplored, marking it as a journey through familiar terrains desperately grasping for an identity of its own.
Tom Nichols (del Toro), a detective who moves from Philly to a small town to take a detective job after his wife, Judy (Silverstone), ailing uncle arranges for Tom to take the position. Immediately, he is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of real estate agent, Summer (Lutz). Right away things get complicated as it is discovered that former boyfriend Will Grady (Timberlake), found her body in a foreclosed home they aimed to put on the market. Assisting in the investigation is Nichols’s partner, Detective Dan Cleary (Essandoh), who may be hiding more than he lets on.
Eli Phillips (Pitt), is an initial suspect as he has an ax to grind with the entire real estate community as his family is displaced. His ability to pop up in places he shouldn’t be, and look as greasy and creepy as possible lends to his character being a fantastic red herring. There’s also Summer’s ex-husband (Glusman), whose dead behind the eyes shtick, seemingly leads to probable cause as well. With further investigation, Tom finds the rabbit hole runs deep, and there are