I really enjoyed the Netflix neo-noir mystery Reptile, starring Benicio del Toro as Tom, a veteran Philadelphia detective who finds himself the new man on the police force of an affluent town in Maine. Tom and his wife Judy (Alicia Silverstone) have left the big city because Tom’s partner was sent up for corruption, and now the other Philly cops don’t trust Tom. They landed in Maine because Judy’s uncle (Eric Bogosian) is a captain on the local force. The girlfriend of a shady Realtor (Justin Timberlake) is murdered, and the local cops are happy that they can put a seasoned pro like Tom on the case.
The boyfriend is a suspect, of course, as is the victim’s tweaked-out ex-husband (whom she’s been seing on the side)(Karl Glusman). A stringy-haired local psycho (Michael Pitt – where’s he been since I Origins and Seven Psychopaths?) pops up, but this quasi-Manson just might be too obvious.
DNA evidence comes in, there’s a shootout, and it looks like the case is solved. Tom is recognized as a literal hero, but he has a lingering doubt and keeps poking around, which is when the police procedural become a paranoid thriller – all the way to its bloody, and deeply satisfying, finale.
Reptile is a showcase for the sublime performance by Benicio del Toro. Using del Toro’s hulking physicality, Tom moves imposingly but silently. Oozing street cred, he keeps his own counsel. Tom busts balls with the other cops, but you can tell that he’s always holding something back. A very smart guy, Tom spots things right away, but mulls them over before sharing them with others. Del Toro is an Oscar-winning actor with a substantial body of work, but this is his most vivid work in years. Even critics who don’t like the movie Reptile have raved about del Toro’s performance. (Here’s some del Toro trivia – he had the good fortune to break in with a part in a James Bond film; unfortunately, it was the one starring Timothy Dalton.)
Alicia Silverstone is perfect as the spunky cop’s wife Judy – a Howard Hawkes-type wife if there ever was one. One of the most agreeable aspects of Reptile is the trust and partnership between Tom and Judy. She’s got real balls, and he wouldn’t confide in her if she didn’t. If Reptile had been made in the classic Hollywood era, Judy would have ben played by Ella Raines, Katharine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall.
Ato Essandoh is very good as Tom’s less experienced partner. Frances Fisher is remarkable as the frosty matriarch of the shady real estate business, and the reason that the Timberlake character never grew his own spine.
Timberlake and Bogosian are very good. So are Domenick Lombardozzi and Mike Pniewski as police commanders.
Reptile was directed by Grant Singer, who has chiefly directed music videos before; Singer co-wrote the screenplay with del Toro and Benjamin Brewer.
The critical reception for Reptile has been mixed. I really don’t understand criticism of the pacing, the plot twists and of Timberlake’s performance (his character is SUPPOSED to be weak and slimy). I see a lot of neo-noir crime mysteries, and, trust me, this is a good one.
Reptile is streaming on Netflix.