Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Despite its slow, languid pace, the 2023 thriller “Reptile” might spook viewers more than the average horror movie.

Directed by Grant Singer, who co-wrote the story with Benjamin Brewer and Benicio Del Toro, “Reptile” is a tense, broody psychological crime caper with a gruesome death at the center of it. Scarborough real estate mogul Will Grady (Justin Timberlake) finds his girlfriend Summer brutally murdered in the house they were flipping. As multiple suspects emerge, the case turns out to be far more twisted than it appears to be.

Benicio Del Toro plays Tom Nichols, the police officer leading the investigation into the case, who often consults his wife Judy (Alicia Silverstone) on the leads he gathers. While the excessive focus on Tom and Judy’s relationship often seemed unnecessary, their significant screen-time begins to make sense towards the end. But through the runtime, you cannot help but be restless over wanting to see more of the criminal investigation in the case, than Tom’s petty jealousy over Judy smiling while conversing with a guy repairing their home. There are three primary suspects in the case: Summer’s boyfriend, Will Grady; eccentric ex-husband, Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman); and Eli Phillips (Michael Pitt), the angry son of a farmer whose land was purchased by the Gradys.

The cinematography in “Reptile” is moody and nostalgic, featuring a dominant warm color palette that evokes the feeling of the 1990s. Some of the scene transitions are brilliantly executed. For instance, there’s a sequence where one character is seen boxing frantically against a picture on his wall, creating a cacophony of noise. The scene shifts to Tom Nichols, who is disturbed by similar sounds, and it looks the like the character is boxing against his wall, but the noise is revealed to be coming from the repair work happening in his house. The scene switch is smooth, making you expect more such seamless scene transitions, although there aren’t many, despite ample opportunities.

Benicio Del Toro’s portrayal of Tom Nichols emerges as the most compelling character in this two-hour-long thriller. He plays an upright cop who passionately investigates Summer’s death and is confronted with a moral dilemma when an easy solution to wrapping up the case presents itself. All the other supporting characters serve as catalysts for Tom’s character development and defining moment in this complex case. He must navigate through workplace politics, ethical dilemmas, and deal with crooked criminals, all while making the tough decision to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to unmask the real killer.

The story unfolds in a manner that will keep you constantly wavering between two primary suspects. With the knowledge that the killer is still at large, “Reptile” often sends shivers down your spine, as you remain uncertain about when another murder might occur. Even though the slow pace of the film can be quite challenging at times, the background music oftentimes builds-up intrigue and the necessary suspense to keep viewers invested in Tom’s endeavors to solve the case. “There’s only one thing I love almost as much as I love you, and that’s being a cop,” Tom says quite dispassionately to Judy, in a tense scene towards the climax; and the character’s growth sure as hell makes you believe it.

“Reptile” is one of those rarer thrillers that gets tenser and stronger in its last act. The direction leads you to fear that maybe director Grant Singer will leave you with an open-ended “WTF” kind of cliffhanger in the end, making you draw your own conclusions. But surprisingly, the film ends on a decisive note and left me quite satisfied with the knowledge of what really happened. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries, watch this when you get the time.

You can stream “Reptile” on Netflix.

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