REPTILE

Everything but the kitchen sink is a common saying in the UK, a lot of films opting to hold back in their approach, whether it be storytelling or actors with their performances. Reptile is a crime thriller from Grant Singer that literally throws everything, including the kitchen sink, to deliver a slow-burning procedural thriller with just about enough to sink your teeth into. 

Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio del Toro), a hardened detective, attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and, by doing so, dismantles the illusions in his own life.

Reptile isn't a crime thriller that's going to blow any minds, but it's well-made enough to offer its audience a chance to join its lead character in trying to get to the centre of a gruesome mystery. It's an engaging experience that may be easy to telegraph yet Singer creates an atmosphere that slowly cranks up the tension, Nichols chasing a result on a case that might lead him down a path he wouldn't want to follow. It culminates with a by-the-numbers showdown but Singer's direction is solid enough to make it work.

Benicio Del Toro always feels like a man of mystery in any film and he possesses that quality again in Reptile. It's what makes him such a magnetic screen presence, always drawn to whatever he's doing, particularly with his eyes. He certainly elevates a film like this. Sadly, the rest of the cast aren't quite at his level, save for maybe Michael Pitt, who also possesses a certain energy as an actor that makes his work worth seeking out. 

Reptile is easily better than a lot of the Netflix originals that plague the streaming service, even if it doesn't do anything to reinvent the wheel. If Benicio Del Toro is in your film, it's always got a chance.

Verdict: ★★★½