Reptile

UK Release Date. 29 September 2023
Certification. 15 
Running Time. 2 hours 14 mins
Director. Grant Singer
Cast. Eric Bogosian, Benicio Del Toro, Alicia Silverstone, Justin Timberlake.
Rating. 60%

Review.

There was a time before Se7en, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl when thrillers were linear and not the convoluted and contorted labyrinth of misdirection favoured by present-day filmmakers, the likes of David Fincher.

Reptile sees the ever-watchable Benicio Del Toro play Detective Tom Nichols in a Fincheresque Netflix thriller from first-time director Grant Singer. Misdirection and mistrust are aplenty [I reckon I considered at least eight potential suspects], but at its heart Reptile is an old-fashioned, dogged, procedural police investigation, where every lead is diligently explored. Del Toro draws us in with an understated performance, and his portrayal of the weathered and soft-spoken detective remains the most interesting element of Reptile. 

The film follows the investigation of the murder of New England real estate agent, Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz), and whilst the film accentuates the procedural element of the investigation, Reptile is no Zodiac.

A relentlessly oppressive atmosphere cloaks and eventually smothers Reptile. For in excess in two hours Reptile plays out with a monotone note of hushed unease and ominous dread. For a short while, it is an effective approach, but because the film never deviates from this suffocating approach, the film slowly loses its intrigue.

The film's uneven editing, fractious storyline and aforementioned foreboding undertone results in another entry in the growing catalogue of David Fincher imitations, such as Taking Lives, Solace or The Little Things. But Fincher fans need not despair, the Netflix's real David Fincher film, The Killer premieres next month.