Reptile (2023) User Reviews

Solid police drama that could have been braver in the end

[timmyhollywood · 7/10 · 6 October 2023]

Benicio Del Toro co-writes this gritty, granular police procedural about a murdered real estate agent. Who killed her? Her fiancé, Justin Timberlake, her soon-to-be ex-husband, or a sketchy weirdo played convincingly by Michael Pitt?

But then, heavy spoiler alert, the final act: when Del Toro comes home one night from the job, he finds signs of a break in. The pool is leaking. You think, Oh no, the killer got to his wife!

But she's not dead - she's shot at Pitt and put a hole in the pool. Pitt is there, it turns out, to give Del Toro a clue. One of those handy thumb drives with all sorts of damning digital evidence.

The real estate thing involves the cops, and drugs, and something about money laundering. Del Toro confronts the cops, at one of their homes, at nine in the morning, and a shootout ensues. End of story.

He doesn't even go after Timberlake, who instead we see golfing in a penultimate scene, then the FBI ride up in a golf cart and nab him.

Roll credits.

I mean, Jesus.

What started out as a creepy, interesting story with lots of tension devolved into a by-the-numbers "corrupt cops" trope. Granted, a lot of this was done well. The pacing feels brisk, the editing crisp. Del Toro is great, his wife played by Alicia Silverstone is great, and it was refreshing to have their marriage be healthy and functional.

The music is on point, too. The direction and camera work consists of the usual intensive continuity with way too many close ups, but that's nearly every film today.

Se7en this is not. This is Netflix doing a pretty good job of creating a serviceable cop drama with some flashes of originality that ultimately isn't brave or bold enough to not fall victim to the most pat formula resolution.

I mean, who or what was "reptile" anyway? Who even actually killed the woman at the beginning? What was the significance of her wounds - being stabbed so hard the knife penetrated bone?? What were the potential bite marks on her hand all about?? It's like the writers thought to present a great mystery but only figured out how to solve some of it.

Close, Del Toro, but no cigar.

Starts out like any other average detective, but slowly increases in suspense and thrill.

[imseeg · 8/10 · 30 September 2023]

SLOWburning detective movie and when I say SLOWburning then I mean really SLOW. Sorry for all these capital letters, but the first hour nothing much happens and I was wondering if anything was about to happen at all. Well, fortunately it did!

The REAL suspense and thrill (only slowly yet steadily) intensifies during the second hour, which gets really creepy and intense, with a final that is like a sledgehammer. Wow. Really impressed by it.

The good: Benicio del Toro Benicio del Toro Benicio del Toro.

This man has got charisma few other actors (are lucky to) have. He really steals the show, with his very subtle acting skills, that convey so many different feelings that simply watching Benicio del Toro lifting up a small glass to drink is fascinating to watch.

Benicio del Toro co-wrote the screenplay and he co-produced this movie as well. So he had a lot of cloud. And it shows, because this is one heck of a Benicio del Toro flick.

The director made his feature movie debut, with only having made lots of music videos before and although I dont think his direction was terrific, it certainly was a masterful debut.

Quite impressed AND spooked out by it. Recommended for the art house movie fans of slowburning (yet still suspenseful) detective movies.

Neo Noir Thriller

[amcdkc · 8/10 · 29 September 2023]

If you are interested in watching a good thriller, shot at a good pace, with twists and turns, than this is for you.

Do not buy into some of the reviews, they do not reflect the general feedback. This is a very very good neo noir thriller with nice subtleties and some very good acting, particularly from Del Toro. Timberlake is quite good too, allowing for more method in his performance.

I found the dynamic between Del Toro and Alecia Silverstone strong, with the Clueless star playing a much more important role than you often see from the protagonists spouse' in these films.

Very good, gritty at times, with some minor plot gaps, which can be forgiven as the story evolves into a thrilling finale.

Del Toro is awesome and the acting is aces but there are too many loose ends

[johnbthomasiii80 · 6/10 · 3 October 2023]

Reptile is a movie that starts out, absolutely fantastic builds to a crescendo about halfway through, and then falls apart through all the red herrings, macguffins, and unresolved loose ends, that it presents in an effort to give us a dramatic end to this murder mystery/procedural drama.

Benicio Del Toro delivers possibly the best performance I've ever seen him give he can often seem slimy, slick or creepy but in this film, he comes across just as he intends you to see him, which is as a man with a spotty history as a policeman, but greatly desiring to get onto the street and narrow. He is supported by his dutiful wife Judy, played by Alicia Silverstone in a really strong performance.

Justin Timberlake gives us a turn as the bereaved boyfriend of the murder victim, Timberlake and his mother, played by Frances Farmer, who is very underused on the real estate company that Timberlake and his girlfriend work for.

Quickly the suspects add up. There is the girlfriends soon to be ex-husband; then there's Eli who Timberlake and farmer have screwed out of his families property. There's also some sort of a weird creepy guy out of the church that's getting painted in the middle of nowhere. This is apparently a piece of property that the girlfriend sold but revisited. This plot point is never revisited, nor dug into any further, yet the paint that they've been using to paint the church appears on the victim and on the victims soon to be ex-husband.

Finally, we discover that the whole business is a result of police corruption and drug trafficking and money laundering. The police corruption goes so deep. We are not quite sure who's clean and who's dirty. This also leads to all sorts of loose ends that we are provided.

There's a scene with Del Toro at a therapists office as required after a shooting and he talks of a dream. Then later he has a dream or does he? It would seem that the dream which is very plot specific reveals the killer out right and no point do we get any indication that his realization of who the killer is wasn't a real occurrence rather than the dream it is presented as. But so many questions abound.

Why would any self-respecting policeman on the teak hang on to the vehicle that was used by the killer to kill the victim?

Was the killer actually the police chief and not the boyfriend? We don't know we're never told.

Why does Timberlake's character show up just days after the murder of his girlfriend with a girl that looks almost identical to that girlfriend in a restaurant where he runs into the detective leading the case? Further why would he have showed up with this girl and does she have any relevance to the plot that follows? No. It's another blind alley.

Is del Toro's partner in on the corruption? At the end we don't know.

What was the point of the police pulling Del Toro and his wife over after the party? If only to lead them home? It's possible it was to reinforce the fact that the police corruption goes deeper than he is aware. However, if this is the case it never comes up, or is never revealed at the end of the film. We just don't know what happens.

Who actually killed the victim in the film? It is never really divulged who that is. We are led to believe it is the boyfriend, but then if it is, why is the car that was used by the killer parked in the chief of police house?

Eli is killed off screen and this time we know Timberlake is in on it but we're not allowed to see who else is present in the room and it is never revealed to us even though it is alluded to.

Finally, the climax of the film has some of the most confusing things in it. Del Toro gives the evidence to the police captain, and they both go to see the chief of police to confront him with what they have. Now Del Toro's character has given over the evidence that Eli provided him to the police captain, whom we assume is on the take and Del Toro is unaware. This fact when realized really makes Del Toro seem like a rookie detective and not the seasoned guy he supposed to be.

When the chief of police whispers to Del Toro to leave because he's been found out, and that the captain is in on it, before Del Toro can leave, we must assume that the head of the DEA, who is a friend of Del Toro's is responsible for murdering the chief of police in his own home. Hearing this gunshot, Del Toro goes in to the bathroom where the captain has retreated and confront him and kills him. Then Del Toro's friend comes down the stairs after having killed a police, chief and attempt to kill del Toro. They have a gun fight, and Del Toro mortally ones his friend Dave. Then Del Toro picks up his phone and calls 911. We don't see police cars. He doesn't speak to the police or 911 yet in the next scene, we see Timberlake being arrested by the FBI while playing golf and then the next scene cuts to Del Toro Having his wife dip, his hands in hot wax, supposedly/assumedly to remove any gun shot residue he might have on his hands. But why? What is the shooting a good shooting? Or a bad shooting? We'll never know. The Director decides to leave us right there. We don't know if Del Toro is a good cop, who discovered a nest of vipers as the title would lead us to believe or if the FBI stumble across this whole thing on their own, and after their investigation, finally get around to arresting Timberlake. We don't see Francis farmer arrested. We don't see the police force getting arrested for this corruption and drug smuggling and money laundering and murder.

So while the film has incredible acting, and has a really neat premise, it just sort of falls apart at the end, because all these questions are left on answered, and there are just too many little bits and pieces that are thrown in that have no reason to be there.

.

Maybe a little too escoteric for a mass audience but an excellent thriller nevertheless.

[MOscarbradley · 7/10 · 30 September 2023]

This slow-burner of a murder yarn may just turn out to be the best thriller of the year. A realtor is found dead by her colleague and partner who naturally becomes a suspect but then there are a few other men in her life who are also suspects; so far, so common-place but Grant Singer's "Reptile" is as much about the police investigating the killing as it is about the investigation. These are a close-knit bunch of cops who both work and play together and who may not be as clean as they should be.

A sterling cast, (Benicio Del Torro, Alicia Silverstone, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Michael Pitt, Frances Fisher), add a further touch of class to an already classy thriller and one that is as far from conventional multiplex fare as you are likely to get. It may not always be that easy to follow and midway through the killing seems to fade into the background but it's always highly intelligent and while it may not appeal to a mass audience I think it has cult status written all over it.

A lot of build up, not much pay off.

[trumpisafatpileofshit · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

This movie has a great cast, very well acted, it sucked me in and held my attention... but then it just ends. It was almost like they looked at the clock and realized that they had to finish, so they tried to tie it up as neat as possible. Maybe I have been spoiled by the twists and turns of other thrillers, maybe I have been spoiled by slow-burn films that have huge endings.

This was a slow-burn, with no big flame, and it was immediately extinguished. I honestly feel like they could have condensed everything thing that happens, because the ending feels like the halfway point. Just as things start moving, it stops. Great actors though, I really enjoyed the movie until I realized they were going to rush job the ending.

They never even explain what happened to his hand in the beginning of the film. He does injure it again at the end, and then they have the silly wax dip so the can tie in this forced notion of a reptile shedding its skin. Meh.

A decent debut from director Grant Singer that strives to be this year's Gone Baby Gone or Prisoners that while intriguing feels like it's missing something

[IonicBreezeMachine · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

Set in the town of Scarborough, Detective Tom Nichols (Benecio del Toro) and his partner Dan Cleary (Ato Essandoh) investigate the murder of real-estate broker Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz). As the two run down possible suspects including Summer's boyfriend Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), her ex-husband Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman), and a man with a grudge against the Gradys named Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt), the case goes from a simple murder to something of larger scale implications.

Reptile is the feature film debut of music video director Grant Singer who also co-wrote the script alongside Benjamin Brewer and the film's star and executive producer Benicio Del Toro. Singer and Brewer wrote the initial draft of the film in 2018 where it was acquired by Black Label Media who'd previously worked with Del Toro on the Sicario films and upon showing it to him he became a huge proponent of the project. With a gritty noir story, an all star cast, and an Autumn adjacent release date you can tell Netflix wants this to be their equivalent of Gone Baby Gone or Prisoners as that dark horse crime thriller that scores some Oscar nominations, and while it doesn't reach those heights unfortunately it's an ultimately decent detective thriller with a strong sense of style and some committed performances.

Despite being the debut feature of Grant Singer, he shows a strong grasp on filmmaking from a stylistic and technical sense with the film given some solid shots that capture the environments in which Nichols investigates. With a predominantly suburban setting that often uses the states of various homes like McMansion Grady is trying to sell having signs of vermin infestation or a neglected swimming pool with stagnant water, you get the sense Singer is trying to capture that underlying sense of rot within these seemingly idyllic homes. While Tom Nichols isn't given the greatest depth as a protagonist, del Toro who serves as a co-writer on the film does add some humanity to the role especially in regards to his relationship with his wife Judy played by Alicia Silverstone who takes what could've been an underwritten character and makes her more of a confidant who actually assists Tom on several occasions and the two have some solid chemistry together. Where the movie faulters for me unfortunately is in the mystery aspect of the film especially in how it establishes its array of suspects only for us to switch gears at the one hour mark where we begin another decidedly different investigation. The writing in the film while fine most of the time is perfectly fine (if not exceptional) but it does lead to some groanworthy dialogue exchanges and a fake-out dream sequence that I didn't really care for.

For those who like dramatic procedural thrillers of this kind you will find some good elements to appreciate here especially in how it relates to the acting and visuals on display. The movie itself as a mystery I'm sorry to say fell somewhat flat for me despite seemingly having all the right pieces in play. A slight stumble out the gate for Grant Singer, but one that shows promise if given refinement.

Cops and Realtors

[tigerfish50 · 7/10 · 30 September 2023]

The opening scenes of 'Reptile' show real estate developer Will having some uneasy exchanges with his realtor girlfriend Summer. The following night he gets a message asking him to meet her at a vacant property, and arrives to find she has been murdered with extreme violence. The initial police investigation zeroes in on Will, but the case gets murkier when it's revealed Summer had a bitter ex-husband, while a former client holds a grudge against Will.

All this is just the introductory passage, after which homicide detective Tom Nichols sets to work and finds additional complications. With the plot unfolding at an unhurried pace, Nichols' nuanced relationship with his wife Judy is given unusual prominence for a neo-noir mystery movie. The rest of the excellent cast is well up to the task of portraying individuals being devious and antagonistic as Nichols ruffles the feathers of his suspects and colleagues. 'Reptile' is a thoroughly professional debut by a first time director which offers several modest innovations to the genre.

An intelligent mystery

[Vancouver77 · 8/10 · 30 September 2023]

For those who like murder mysteries like me, this is an excellent movie. My fave shows and movies are BBC mysteries and Nordic Noir - well written and well acted productions. Certainly, for the mystery-affectionado, this is a quality production from top to bottom - acting, writing, story-line, camera work, production. Benicio Del Torro is a pleasure to watch. I feel like the story was somewhat familiar but I appreciate a movie which re-covers a certain theme but in a quality way. For those who enjoy an intelligent mystery / thriller, they will enjoy this movie. For those who want a more shoot 'em up, car chase, action-packed show, this will disappoint. Overall, I recommend to anyone who enjoys quality mystery / thriller productions.

Decidedly Solid Crime Thriller

[kierankasha · 7/10 · 9 September 2023]

With misdirections galore, Reptile certainly keeps you guessing. This is done not only in the plot but also in the editing room as overlapping cuts to different suspects creates a cinematographic shell game of sorts. Del Toro's and Silverstone's performances being a key high point of the film.

The only major critiques I'd have is some tonal inconsistency, film length, and some fairly wooden acting from Justin Timberlake. Without spoilers, Del Toro's character Nichols provides moments of levity, especially at the start of the film but this is often jarringly bookended by suspenseful scenes and the wonderful but loud score. Without the laughs, the movie certainly evokes Prisoners in terms of its mood, tension beats, and twists and turns. In the latter acts, the levity disappears as the plot unravels, which while providing a sense of juxtaposition, also makes one question their overall purpose. This, along with some questionable plot and character points that go unanswered makes the ending feel a little abrupt.

Additionally, the film is on the long side. The pacing of the first act felt a bit fast, especially when introducing new characters and so when the plot is revealed it's easy for the viewer to forget who's who in this whodunit. The other acts are a mixed bag of great and suspenseful pacing and additional to party or line dancing scenes that provide little value other than allowing us see the shadows in the light.

Lastly, while Timberlake has shown himself to be a solid acting presence in films like The Social Network, he simply feels bland in this role. He doesn't get a ton of screen time but the time he is on screen, his delivery of certain lines, especially when he's yelling, feel robotic more than they feel sincere. This is evident in the first few scenes of the film.

That being said, for the director's first film, Reptile certainly shines. There are some extremely clever moments (the phone call and pool leak especially without giving too much detail) that feel incredibly fresh. I certainly look forward to what Grant Singer released in the future.

Complex moody thriller of True detective genre

[robNorseman · 8/10 · 29 September 2023]

This film could have easily been a series of True Detective.... the filming, atmosphere and music are very of that genre... this is a long film and not for the action lovers. It's thoughtful well written and you need to be awake and concentrating. If you like this pace of film you will enjoy it and the plot is complex and cleverly developed... I won't spoil it... there are web sites that fully explain it. I believe it's got a 7/10 rating due to some impatient poor reviews by people not suited to the pace and genre. I would say if you like the true detective series 1 you might enjoy this ... but if you wants a shoot out every two minutes and an easy plot line... I'd give it a miss.

Slow, cluttered story; del Toro and cast redeems.

[lee-96696 · 6/10 · 3 October 2023]

I'm so mixed on this film. I went in with high expectations. And the first hour is engaging. Well paced. The mystery competently set up. Stylish cinematography. Dark, forbidding vibe. But at the end, I found it to be a missed opportunity.

The crime: a young, attractive real estate agent, Matilda Lutz as Summer Elswick is brutally murdered at a home she is showing. It is clearly a crime of passion. Over thirty stab wounds, and a knife embedded in her pelvic bone.

Her boyfriend, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake) a successful colleague, is the first suspect. Summer failed to show up for one of his talks, and he becomes quite angry. He was to meet Summer at the listing.

Suspect #2 is a sleazy, slightly "off" ex-husband Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman). His art projects are downright creepy. Number three is Eli Philipps (Michael Pitt) who appears a few nights later at Will's mom's home as a threatening, perhaps mentally disturbed young man bent on avenging a decades old real estate deal brokered by Will's dad. He feels cheated out of a family farm. He looks like a messier, bad-hair-day Russell Brand.

But then it all crashes at hour two. The plot becomes cluttered and unfocused as we wade into the suspicious doings at the small city police department, and procedural stuff. Too many ancillary characters wander in and out of the story. Subplots are dropped. Plot holes emerge. A ridiculous mistake by one of the bad guys reveals too much too soon. And it is all way too slow. A traffic stop takes an eternity and nothing much happens. There are several scenes of cars lazily cruising through scenic country sides, a cliche I often see in Nordic noirs. This thanks to cheap drones, I suspect.

On the positive side, Benico del Toro is great as the enigmatic detective Tom Nichols. He keeps the interest level up as viewers trudge through the messy narrative. He's perfect for a procedural. Low key. Poker faced. And unlike so many TV detectives, his character is free of major vices and a bad / failed marriage. Detective Nichols' only temptations: a better kitchen (and a motion activated faucet, a running joke here) and a top of the line used pickup truck. A not-at-all developed sub-plot shows him to be a jealous husband as well.

Alice Silverstone plays his wife, who is sort of an "assistant detective" helping him piece together a few clues. She is refreshing, a real change from the usual victimized, put-upon police wives we so often see.

I actually found Justin Timberlake's Will convincing as a sort of dodgy, narcissistic rich-kid real estate agent / motivational speaker. There's family money here and a strong mother (Francis Fisher) who heads the real estate business. If this were a series that dynamic would be ripe for exploring further.

In fact, Reptile, with all its subplots and supporting cast, would have been better as a six-part series. Or, a more skillfully edited, slimmed down 90-minute film. Both, though, would need a better title. "Foreclosure" maybe? "Do We have a Deal?" "Great Bones."

So Much Promise, Such a Poor Delivery

[scottjtepper · 4/10 · 2 October 2023]

All movies require a suspension of disbelief. But you expect that your screenwriters will have some connection to the real world. That the major plot lines or the comments about every day life won't be stupid.

You would expect that. Not here.

A minor example, right at the beginning of the film. A harbinger. The screenwriters apparently have no experience with automobiles. In one of the opening scenes between two young women swimmers talking about a nightmare in a locker room, one of them talks about the horror of being stuck in a car in a tunnel. And that she had to "turn the battery on." Huh? Anyone who drives a car knows you turn on the IGNITION.

The three screenwriters couldn't get that right? One is a neophyte director/screenwriter, so he probably takes the subway. Another is a world famous actor, so he's probably driven around. You'd think the third would have some idea what you use the key or fob for in an automobile. Nope.

And the major plot point for which the real estate agent was killed -- that her broker's commissions were somehow being invested in real estate to avoid taxes -- is preposterous. That's not how it works. And selling houses worth almost a million dollars and for 6 sales she generates the whopping sum of $70,000 in hidden commissions? What is she selling - doll houses? No. Houses in the high 6 figures.

Of course here the "sales" all involved civil forfeitures from planted narcotics. Civil forfeitures aren't that easy. There are defenses to them. After a number of these forfeitures (like, two maybe), someone would get wind of the scam. Here the only one who figured it out was the kooky neighbor. He must be a relative of the kooky faux scientist in the Moonfall movie.

And what's with the Benicio Del Toro character's injured hand, and the re-injury and treatment at the end? Mysterious? For what reason? Never explained. Never an issue. There for no reason. Chekov would be very disappointed.

And so was I.

This turned out to be glop, spoiled by screenwriters who don't have a viable connection to the real world. What a disappointment.

Don't understand the ending

[soriasv · 6/10 · 3 October 2023]

The movie was entertaining for the most part, music a little too dramatic and I don't get the ending? There's no closure of characters and the hand washing at the end???? Good acting and I liked all the characters some stood out more than others. Needed more character development and not sure if I would recommend this movie to anyone, just didn't reach its full potential. Probably could have been a little longer to explain things, was there a book that this is based on?? Who was all involved? How deep did it run? How did he explain the blood bath at the end did the other cop survive and confess to everything??

OK murder mystery featuring some great performances

[paul-allaer · 6/10 · 1 October 2023]

As "Reptile" (2023 release; 136 min) opens, we meet realtors Will and Summer as they are prepping a house for a showing. Looks like they are a couple. Some time later, Summer is again at that house. Will is on his way there too but for reasons unknown he is not able to reach Summer on her phone. He arrives at the house only to find Summer brutally murdered... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the feature length directing debut of Grant Singer, best known for his music videos. Here he brings a murder mystery that initially seems straight-forward: who killed Summer? Will? Summer's ex? A local bad boy? Except that this is just the beginning. The movie is super plot-heavy so the less said about that, the better. Suffice to say that it helps if you can keep an open mind how it all plays out. Along the way we get a number of great performances including Justin Timberlake (as Will), Benicio del Toro (as the Detective on the case; del Toro also co-wrote the script) and Alicia Silverstone )as the Detective's wife). Yet despite the plot twists, the movie lacks a true element of surprise and it all feels quite standard and strictly by the numbers. Consider as well that this movie was shot a full 2 years ago. Why has it been sitting on the shelves for this long?

"Reptile" premiered at the recent Toronto International Film Festival to ho-hum reactions, and after a limited 1 week theatrical release, the movie started airing on Netflix this weekend. If you are in the mood for a murder mystery, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and reach your own conclusion.

Watched to the end but left with questions

[robb7 · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

Can anyone explain the surgical glove in the final Scene and why call the film is called Reptiles? This film had so much promise but Spoiler Alert - it was concluded with a fairly stereotypical bad cop good cop ending! Come on Netflix try harder please this had a 7 star rating and I hoped to rely upon IMDB ratings but this shakes my faith completely.

Del Toro was very watchable.

There was the promise of a complex story and the process of whodunnit was a fun experience but ended ultimately in disappointment... almost seems like the scriptwriter ran out of juice or inspiration as it were.

So I'd recommend a more traditional film if you want a good whodunnit like an Agatha Christie with a lot less American shizzle and a lot more depth and ultimately a clear conclusion.

In my conclusion a poor script took over what could potentially have been a great film. Just required a good dose of creativity.

Work harder Netflix / Hollywood / whoever you are. Kind of agree with the reviews that reference the use of an AI Bot. Maybe this was just such a script but then I would expect someone of Del Toro's calibre NOT to accept such a script!

Suspenseful Old-School Detective Thriller

[j_e_hill · 7/10 · 27 October 2023]

This movie is a little like a classic Michael Mann movie. Not quite to the standard of Heat or Manhunter, of course, but it brings to mind those and similar classics.

Some complain about the unresolved storyline threads, but I find that to be much more intelligent and rewarding. Did his wife cheat with him? Doesn't matter, it just mattered how Del Toro's character responded to the potential of it. Who was the actual killer? Doesn't matter, once we know that the boyfriend was complicit in it.

There are definitely some potential issues with the plot, such as the police not going to the victim's legal next-of-kin first, and the sometimes casual obtuse responses by some of the police, which don't seem to phase Detective Nichols, who otherwise has the nose for right and wrong. It seemed pretty implausible that the PO Box thing was so obvious and convenient to tie his DEA pal to the murders. But these things happen in movies and you have to take some of it with a grain of salt, there are only so many ways to move a story forward in two hours.

For those reasons, I'd give the movie a 6, but Benicio Del Toro's performance is worth a bump up to a 7/10. The acting throughout is terrific, in fact, with Alicia Silverstone convincingly playing the role of supportive but heady partner. Justin Timberlake leaves you wondering all the while, with a perfectly muted but evocative performance. The secondary characters are mostly well-played as well, even if a little one-dimensional in some moments.

Definitely worth the watch, if you like the actors and the trailer caught your attention, you will enjoy it.

while the beginning of "Reptile" is undeniably captivating, the film's conclusion may leave some viewers wanting more.

[naseerdin · 6/10 · 14 April 2024]

From the opening scenes, "Reptile" seizes the viewer's attention with its compelling narrative and masterful cinematography. The director's vision is vividly realized through the seamless integration of visuals and sound, drawing the audience into a world fraught with intrigue and suspense. As the story unfolds, the stellar performances of the cast further enrich the viewing experience, with each actor bringing depth and authenticity to their respective roles.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of "Reptile" is its mesmerizing soundtrack, which serves as an evocative backdrop to the unfolding drama. The interplay between music and imagery enhances the emotional resonance of key moments, immersing viewers in the film's atmospheric landscape.

However, while the beginning of "Reptile" is undeniably captivating, the film's conclusion may leave some viewers wanting more. The narrative's resolution is marked by ambiguity, with several plot threads left tantalizingly unresolved. While this deliberate choice may invite contemplation and interpretation, it could also leave certain audience members feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Movies that Are missed

[intreago-10011 · 9/10 · 29 September 2023]

I'm more of nostalgic in this review so I give it a 9 instead of 7.5 , but damn I miss a good crime thriller. This is exactly what I needed , after Little Things with Denzel , this one is the next one I really like. Movie is a nice mixture of 90s killer thrillers combined with likes of Training Day, so you gonna keep your seat warm trough the whole movie. Cast is more then amazing , screenplay is enjoyable with some nice twists , cinematography is also on point , dark and gritty . It's a more then 2 hour movie but you don't feel it at all , it just flows and keeps you interested . Don't believe bad reviews and enjoy this one. We need more of those in production !

Loved it ...... right up until the end.

[dollyrobison · 7/10 · 4 October 2023]

Great acting, brilliant beginning good middle. I was getting very excited thinking yes! Finally a really decent thriller. So disappointed then to get to the end and not have a clue who really did it. So many unanswered questions. Too may loose ends. I really would like to have known what happened.

That said all the actors were really good. Alicia Silverstone and Benicio del Toro were a believable couple. She was a great supporting role. Justin Timberlake also gave a really solid performance Again I wish I haf a full understanding of just what he did and didnt do.

But did I mention .... Great acting.

Tense

[Gav-7 · 8/10 · 5 October 2023]

A great movie very tense and gripping. Lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. All the cast were great. Nice to see Alicia Silverstone cast in something good. Benicio is excellent as always. The music really adds to the atmosphere and it has an almost Lynchian feel.

The cinematography is worth mentioning too and is very effective in creating tension and mood.

One of the better movies on Netflix I would definitely recommend it if you love a good thriller.

I wasn't sure what to expect as I've watched many poor movies on Netflix but this is definitely one of the better features it's a shame it wasn't released theatrically.

Nothing to shed over..

[ts-0000 · 2 October 2023]

A very S-L-O-W burn style crime/detective drama.

It wasn't horrible but not,praise-worthy as many reviewers write.

Although cast & acted overall decent,had unusual or interesting music plus cinematography average.

The title itself was a metaphor so understood that,but how it ended was that also one(shedding skin,ect?) Or did he do something to cover his prints,in order to get closure with an arrest.

The lead detective wasn't all that likeable & he seemed jealous of his younger wife,felt hard to root for him to live & catch the bad guys.. Figured out early on,those closest were involved.. Shocking!

Worth seeing if you like,an ok mystery or any actors.

Could have been good

[Cinephilos · 7/10 · 29 September 2023]

Reptile has many things that could have made this a find movie. The biggest weakness of the movie is the cliche conclusion after much goose chasing. It has a promising start. The dark shadow over the murdered woman and her husband is duplicated over Del Toro and his wife. Fod a moment I felt that Del Toro might murder his wife in the same way the victim was murdered. But the story went in a different direction, to a cliche conclusion that we so often see in many crime movies dealing with drugs and police corruption. Somehow drugs and police corruption don't go too well with the suburban milieu of the Town of Scarborough. It would have been better if the story dealt more with the deep darkness of humans.

Another thing I couldn't understand was the use of several old pop hits like Just Like an Angel. What does it have to do with the story of the movie?

The movie could have been good. The only strength of the movie is the solid performance of Del Toro. It was for him that I watched the movie to the end.

Reptile????

[Feel-the-truth · 5/10 · 30 September 2023]

I have no idea why this movie is called reptile,maybe it's because most reptiles are cold blooded like most characters in this movie.

My god is this movie slowwwww, it felt like it went on forever, plenty of close face shots, and Birdseye view of cars driving down country roads, the background music was more dramatic than the actual movie. The story is ok, and the twists are ok, nothing you haven't seen before.

The movie is blessed with a strong star cast, benicio del Toro, a personal favourite holds the movie together, supported by Alicia Silverstone and Justin Timberlake who has aged super bad...lol.

I wanted to give this movie a better rating, the star cast deserved better but the movie moves at a pace that is soooo slow, who needs a general anesthetic when you can watch this.

decent enough

[ndsnds · 29 September 2023]

I was not holding my breath given the terrible track record Netflix has with movies, but this one was surprisingly watchable. Not a world class thriller, do not get me wrong, but good enough to keep you entertained. Yes, arguably a bit too cardboard with some of the shady characters and cops it throws at you early on, and a average ending, but decent acting by some of the leads and at least a couple of storylines that kept me guessing almost all the way. Del Toro is excellent as always, his character had enough depth, and his acting made the movie. Silverstone was good too, and I particularly enjoyed Eric Bogosian. I thought he was excellent in Billions, and here again his acting is great. Some of the other cops did not quite reach the same level, and I have seen Timberlake act better than this (maybe they should have cast Ryan Philippe to reunite him with his movie mum from Lincoln Lawyer, Frances Fisher). Anyway, I think it is better than most stuff coming out of the Netflix studio pipe, so would recommend to give it a go if you like cop movies and thrillers.