Movie Review: Reptile
This enigmatically titled murder mystery centers on the brutal killing of a realtor in small-town suburbia, with Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro) and his partner tasked with unraveling the case. The investigation quickly reveals a web of potential suspects: the victim’s estranged husband, her boyfriend, and a local resident harboring deep resentment toward the boyfriend’s family.
As the story unfolds with the deliberate pacing characteristic of classic whodunits, certainties dissolve and characters reveal hidden depths. What initially appears straightforward becomes increasingly complex, with each revelation peeling back another layer of deception.
The film’s methodical approach proves increasingly compelling, enhanced by a carefully curated soundtrack that bookends the narrative with Juice Newton’s “Angel of the Morning” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” These musical choices, along with the atmospheric score, create a haunting sense of nostalgia tinged with mounting dread.
The cinematography mirrors this tonal evolution, gradually building an atmosphere of creeping unease that intensifies as the mystery deepens. The cast responds with appropriately measured performances that complement the film’s restrained approach, allowing tension to build through subtlety rather than theatrics.
Del Toro, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film, delivers the standout performance. His weathered features and deliberate physicality perfectly capture his character’s bone-deep exhaustion (both mental and physical) creating a detective who feels authentically worn down by years of investigating humanity’s darker impulses.
“Reptile” operates like its titular creature, shedding layers of deception with hypnotic patience. The film’s serpentine approach to revelation keeps viewers entranced, building to a climax that justifies its measured pace. 7.5/10