Unusual Suspects: A Review of 'Reptile' - The New York Times

2023-10-01 19:10:03

Unusual Suspects: A Review of 'Reptile'

The crime thriller film "Reptile" is now available for streaming on Netflix. In just over two hours, the movie attempts to condense an entire season of a police procedural into a single film. The story revolves around a complex murder case, with an abundance of shady characters involved.

Set in a gloomy marsh town in Maine, the movie begins with friction between a couple, Will (played by Justin Timberlake), a wealthy real estate mogul, and Summer (played by Matilda Lutz), an agent at his company. As they prepare a house for a showing, their strained conversation hints at their troubled relationship. The opulent yet cold interior of the house serves as a metaphor for their domestic strife.

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When Summer is found brutally murdered in one of the properties for sale, the film takes on a procedural tone. The focus shifts to Tom (played by Benicio Del Toro), a new detective in the local force who moved to the town with his wife Judy (portrayed by Alicia Silverstone) following a scandal in Philadelphia. Tom, under the stern command of the police captain (played by Eric Bogosian), presents himself as a weary but dedicated enforcer of law and order. "There's only one thing I love almost as much as I love you," he says smolderingly to Judy, "and that's being a cop."

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A Pandora's Box of Treachery

The murder investigation reveals a web of deception and pretense. Summer, during her time in suburbia, had encountered an array of strange and sinister individuals. These include her ex-husband Sam (played by Karl Glusman), an artist with a penchant for collecting human hair for his sculptures, and her moody confidante Renee (portrayed by Sky Ferreira), who appears to resent Summer's success. Adding to the mix is Will, the pampered and privileged husband with a perpetually sullen expression, portrayed by Justin Timberlake.

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In his directorial debut, Grant Singer demonstrates a talent for building suspense. One particularly stylish sequence showcases Tom dialing a mysterious number that could hold the key to unraveling the case. As the tone plays, the scene cuts to various characters reaching for their ringing phones, creating a palpable Hitchcockian tension.

However, "Reptile" falters when it comes to the overall story. The writers overload the plot with clumsy twists and contrived devices, leading to a sense of fatigue and disinterest by the time the culprit is revealed. Much like an overeager snake, the film bites off more than it can chew.

"Reptile"
Rated R for coldblooded murder. Running time: 2 hours 14 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

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