Reptiles

SLOWburning detective movie and when I say SLOWburning then I mean really SLOW. Sorry for all these capital letters, but the first hour nothing much happens and I was wondering if anything was about to happen at all. Well, fortunately it did!

The REAL suspense and thrill (only slowly yet steadily) intensifies during the second hour, which gets really creepy and intense, with a final that is like a sledgehammer. Wow. Really impressed by it.

The good: Benicio del Toro Benicio del Toro Benicio del Toro.

This man has got charisma few other actors (are lucky to) have. He really steals the show, with his very subtle acting skills, that convey so many different feelings that simply watching Benicio del Toro lifting up a small glass to drink is fascinating to watch.

Benicio del Toro co-wrote the screenplay and he co-produced this movie as well. So he had a lot of cloud. And it shows, because this is one heck of a Benicio del Toro flick.

The director made his feature movie debut, with only having made lots of music videos before and although I dont think his direction was terrific, it certainly was a masterful debut.

Quite impressed AND spooked out by it. Recommended for the art house movie fans of slowburning (yet still suspenseful) detective movies.

This slow-burner of a murder yarn may just turn out to be the best thriller of the year. A realtor is found dead by her colleague and partner who naturally becomes a suspect but then there are a few other men in her life who are also suspects; so far, so common-place but Grant Singer's "Reptile" is as much about the police investigating the killing as it is about the investigation. These are a close-knit bunch of cops who both work and play together and who may not be as clean as they should be.

A sterling cast, (Benicio Del Torro, Alicia Silverstone, Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Michael Pitt, Frances Fisher), add a further touch of class to an already classy thriller and one that is as far from conventional multiplex fare as you are likely to get. It may not always be that easy to follow and midway through the killing seems to fade into the background but it's always highly intelligent and while it may not appeal to a mass audience I think it has cult status written all over it.

For those who like murder mysteries like me, this is an excellent movie. My fave shows and movies are BBC mysteries and Nordic Noir - well written and well acted productions. Certainly, for the mystery-affectionado, this is a quality production from top to bottom - acting, writing, story-line, camera work, production. Benicio Del Torro is a pleasure to watch. I feel like the story was somewhat familiar but I appreciate a movie which re-covers a certain theme but in a quality way. For those who enjoy an intelligent mystery / thriller, they will enjoy this movie. For those who want a more shoot 'em up, car chase, action-packed show, this will disappoint. Overall, I recommend to anyone who enjoys quality mystery / thriller productions.

Music-Director Grant Singer Teams-Up with Benicio del Toro and Delivers this "Netflix" Original for His 1st Feature-Film.

A Bleak Detective Thriller that is Driven by a Moody Neo-Noir Tone.

It's about del Toro, a Transplant Detective Trying to Avoid Mistakes-Made in the Past, and is Caught-Up in a Murder-Corruption Case where "Bad" is Overwhelmingly Everywhere.

He "Bites-the-Bullet" and Hunkers-Down as Events and Revelations Slow-Burn the Case and the Film.

The Tone is Suppressing, Dark, and Deep. More Reliant on Characters "Behaving Badly" than Action and Violence, although the Mood is Relentlessly Depressing and Cuts to the Bone.

Del Toro Nails His Inner-Turmoil Eating Away at His Soul Reflecting in His Demeanor Concerning His Job and His Wife (deliciously played by Alicia Silverstone).

A Stone-Faced Justin Timberlake is a Suspect. What Amounts to a Cameo by Eric Bergosian becomes Integral to the Story.

Worth a Watch.

This film could have easily been a series of True Detective.... the filming, atmosphere and music are very of that genre... this is a long film and not for the action lovers. It's thoughtful well written and you need to be awake and concentrating. If you like this pace of film you will enjoy it and the plot is complex and cleverly developed... I won't spoil it... there are web sites that fully explain it. I believe it's got a 7/10 rating due to some impatient poor reviews by people not suited to the pace and genre. I would say if you like the true detective series 1 you might enjoy this ... but if you wants a shoot out every two minutes and an easy plot line... I'd give it a miss.