“Reptile” is a thriller directed by Grant Singer and written by Singer and Benjamin Brewer. The film stars Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone.
This film has all the elements to hook you: great performances, a compelling story, a solid script, technical proficiency, impressive production, and an unsolved murder case.
The problem: we’ve seen this story so many times before that it fails to captivate us.
Synopsis
After the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective tries to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, unraveling the illusions of his own life in the process.
Review of “Reptile”
Does that movie about a detective stubbornly trying to solve a case that ends up personally involving him sound familiar? “Reptile” is one of those films that aims to entertain, and it does provide entertainment as we spend time with these dark characters that have been portrayed in countless movies before. However, it fails to escape the literary and cinematic influences, making it too similar to those other thousand police thrillers.
Most of these films are good, contributing to making the thriller genre a Hollywood staple. Despite not having a very high budget, they achieve positive results, pleasing critics without causing much of a stir.
However, not all of them are original or refreshing. This is also the case with “Reptile,” which features Benicio del Toro delivering his usual excellent performance, portraying a complex character. Alongside him, Justin Timberlake demonstrates (once again) that he is a talented actor who has yet to find a standout film that truly recognizes his undeniable talent.
“Reptile” is cold, analytical, and stylish, but it fails to establish its own unique style, rhythm, or essence that sets it apart from others.
Our Opinion
This film adheres to the formula but doesn’t go beyond it, resulting in just another police thriller that, unfortunately, fails to leave a lasting impression.
Movie Trailer
Release Date
September 29, 2023
Where to Watch
The Cast
Benicio del Toro
Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez, born on February 19, 1967, is an actor and film producer hailing from Puerto Rico. He has garnered numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award. Some of his notable roles include Fred Fenster in The Usual Suspects, Javier Rodríguez in Traffic (which earned him an Oscar), Jack ‘Jackie Boy’ Rafferty in Sin City, Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Franky Four Fingers in Snatch, and Che Guevara in Che. Remarkably, he is the third Puerto Rican to have won an Academy Award. Read More
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake, born on January 31, 1981, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has achieved great success in the music industry, selling over 88 million records. Timberlake has received numerous awards, including ten Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Brit Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards. He has also been honored with the Contemporary Icon Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. According to Billboard, he is the most successful male solo artist in the history of the Mainstream Top 40. Read More
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone, born on October 4, 1976, is an American actress. She began her acting career in the thriller film The Crush (1993), where she received the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. At the age of 17, she gained even more recognition as a teen idol after starring in Aerosmith’s music video for “Cryin'”. Silverstone’s stardom escalated when she portrayed Cher Horowitz in the popular teen comedy Clueless (1995), leading to a lucrative deal with Columbia Pictures. Later on, in 1997, she took on the role of Batgirl in the high-budget superhero film Batman & Robin. For her performance in the short-lived NBC series Miss Match (2003), Silverstone earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in the Television Series Musical or Comedy category. Throughout her career, she has remained active in film, television, and stage productions. In addition to her acting career, Silverstone is known for her vegan lifestyle. She actively supports PETA and has authored two cookbooks: The Kind Diet (2009) and The Kind Mama (2014). Read More
Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, was raised in Woburn. He completed his high school education at Woburn Memorial High School in 1971. Bogosian then pursued higher education at the University of Chicago and later graduated from Oberlin College in 1976. Following his graduation, he relocated to New York City. In New York, he initially worked as an assistant at the Kitchen, where he also established a dance series. After five years, he decided to fully commit himself to his theater work, thus parting ways with the Kitchen. From 1976 to 1982, Bogosian was involved in the creation, direction, and/or performance of more than sixteen Off-Off-Broadway productions. Additionally, in 1982, he embarked on a tour of the Midwest alongside Fab Five Freddy and the Rock Steady Crew.