Reptile is a visually bleak Fincher simulation forged by the visual mastermind behind some of the most alluring music videos featuring The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Lorde and many others. So when this somber police procedural started, notes of the 2021 thriller The Little Things reared its head up with memories of the Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, Rami Malek film’s mediocrity and attempts at shock value. For those that don’t remember The Little Things wasn’t met with praise and attempted to clone aspects of Fincher’s style to simulate aspects of films like Zodiac or Se7en and the same can be said here, whether fully aware or subconsciously. 

 

What saves Reptile from itself is the phenomenal offering from Benicio Del Toro as Tom Nichols. Del Toro is praiseworthy for a film that doesn’t deserve it, he’s providing a performance that outweighs every other person’s combined offering. His performance as the hardened detective is rich and full of grit, a mystery behind his eyes as he attempts to solve the case. Justin Timberlake is really solid in the first act of the film but then his character, not particularly the actor’s fault, goes completely off the rails narratively. The remaining supporting cast, including 90s icon Alicia Silverstone as Tom’s wife, feels underutilized here and nearly without purpose. Tom’s fellow detectives on the force all feel mysterious but in a very haphazard way of screenwriting. This can be said for all the suspects surrounding the murderous plot, as the potential is squandered pretty quickly. Especially as the story progresses, the motives begin grasping at straws and the plot holes are plentiful by the film’s odd closing shot. 

 

The trailer for Reptile left a lot of intrigue, once again pulling from another Fincher film with the grim stylings of Gone Girl. Being Grant Singer’s feature directorial debut I imagine there was a lot of pressure to make a splash with so many vibrant music videos under his belt, it's surprising just how soulless Reptile is. The cinematography is dull, the direction as a whole leaves a lot of longing for something more clever, but then again when the material thinks it's far more than it is, it's ultimately going to leave a bitter aftertaste. It’s no wonder Benicio Del Toro gave his all to the role, being one of three scribes attached to this blunder of a mystery; completely sacrificing quality storytelling for twists and turns that implode the narrative in the third act entirely.