Reptile is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Grant Singer in his feature-film directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Benjamin Brewer and Benicio del Toro, and a story he co-wrote with Brewer. The film stars del Toro in the lead role, alongside Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Eric Bogosian, Ato Essandoh, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Michael Pitt.
Reptile premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023, and was released in the United States in select theaters on September 22, before streaming on Netflix on September 29 to mixed reception.
Plot[]
{{Spoiler]] Will Grady finds his girlfriend Summer Elswick brutally murdered in a rural Maine house that they had been showing for sale as realtors. When questioned by the police detectives assigned to the case, Tom Nichols and his partner Dan Cleary, Will reveals that he was planning on marrying Summer but could not because she was technically still married to Sam Gifford. He is released. Video evidence from nearby security footage shows a dark-colored car with a missing hubcap that Dan identifies as a 1990 Buick LeSabre; later on, Tom's wife Judy correctly identifies the vehicle as a Chrysler Imperial.
After Summer's funeral, Will tells Tom about a man named Eli Phillips who had come to his mother's house a few nights earlier and tried to force himself in. He explains that, when his father ran the family's real estate company, they had forcibly bought Eli's family farm. Eli's father committed suicide, and he blames Will's family for it. When Tom and Dan question Eli, Eli accuses Will of murdering Summer. He also reveals that he has been researching information on Tom himself, showing an awareness of a corruption scandal involving his former partner when he was working at a precinct in Philadelphia.
DNA analysis of semen found inside of Summer during the autopsy matches that of Sam. This goes along with a statement from a friend of Summer's that the two of them were still seeing each other, meeting secretly at the properties she was selling to have sex. Tom returns to Sam's with a warrant. Sam grabs Dan's gun and is shot by Tom while attempting to flee. A search of his house finds 13 kilograms of heroin.
The deceased Sam is declared to be Summer's murderer, but Tom is hesitant to consider the case solved. Eli shows up at his house at night and gives him a flash drive with evidence that Summer was caught up in a scheme by the Gradys to launder drug money. Properties are planted with drugs and then commandeered via civil asset forfeiture. The Gradys, operating under a shell company called White Fish, then snap up the properties at a discount. Summer was murdered to stop her from reporting the scheme to the DEA.
Evidence points to police officer Wally Finn being behind White Fish, as he also heads a private security company called Active Duty Consulting that uses the same post office box as White Fish. Will shows up at Eli's house demanding the flash drive back. Another person shows up. Tom later arrives at Eli's house and finds him missing.
At the birthday party for Captain Robert Allen, Tom's superior officer and Judy's uncle, Tom attempts to privately inform Allen of Wally's role in Summer's murder and the money launderingscheme, but is interrupted. Later at the same party, Tom discovers a Chrysler Imperial in Allen's garage with a recent paint job. Allen finds Tom in his garage and tells him to let the matter go.
Fearing for his safety, Tom comes home with Judy, explains what he knows to her, and tells her that they must leave that night. However, Allen calls and says he will explain the matter the next day if Tom comes over. Tom agrees. He gives the flash drive to police chief Marty Graeber, and the two of them go together to Allen's house. Marty excuses himself to go to the bathroom, and Allen pleads with Tom to leave to save his life, before going upstairs. Allen is then shot. Marty, who is in on the scheme, reaches for his gun but Tom shoots first and kills Marty. He then shoots Wally (who was the man upstairs who killed Allen) and subdues him.
The FBI arrests Will as he is golfing.
| Spoiler Warning: All spoilers have been stated and have ended here. |
Cast[]
- Benicio del Toro as Tom Nichols, a detective
- Justin Timberlake as Will Grady, the victim's boyfriend
- Alicia Silverstone as Judy Nichols, Tom's wife
- Michael Pitt as Eli Phillips, a suspect
- Ato Essandoh as Dan Cleary, a detective and Tom's partner
- Domenick Lombardozzi as Detective Wally, a friend of Nichols
- Karl Glusman as Sam Gifford, the victim's ex-husband
- Matilda Lutz as Summer Elswick, the victim
- Mike Pniewski as Chief Marty Graeber, a friend of Nichols
- Thad Luckinbill as Peter
- Sky Ferreira as Renee, the victim's best friend
- Owen Teague as Rudy Rackozy, drug smuggler
- Frances Fisher as Camille Grady
- Eric Bogosian as Captain Robert Allen, Nichols' boss and Judy's uncle
- Catherine Dyer as Deena Allen
- Michael Beasley as Victor
- James Devoti as Bennett Rosoff
Production[]
On August 26, 2021, Netflix was set to produce the crime thriller screenplay Reptile with music video director Grant Singer set to make his directorial feature film debut and with Molly Smith, Thad and Trent Luckinbill, Seth Spector, Benicio del Toro, and Rachel Smith as the film’s producers. On October 14, 2021, Singer and Brewer were credited as co-writers.
Along with the announcement on August 26, 2021, del Toro and Justin Timberlake were cast in the film. On September 30, 2021, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Pitt, Ato Essandoh, Frances Fisher, Eric Bogosian, Domenick Lombardozzi, Karl Glusman, Matilda Lutz, Owen Teague, and Catherine Dyer were cast, with Mike Pniewski, Thad Luckinbill, Sky Ferreira, James Devoti, and Michael Beasley confirmed to star two weeks later, on October 14.
Filming commenced in Atlanta on August 15, 2021.
Release[]
Reptile premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023. It was originally scheduled to be released by Netflix on October 6, 2023. It was later switched to a limited release in select theaters in the United States on September 22, 2023, before streaming on Netflix on September 29.
Audience viewership[]
On October 10, 2023, Reptile earned the #1 spot for English language films around the world on Netflix with 19.9 million views for the week, and on October 17, 2023, Reptile earned the #1 spot for English language films around the world on Netflix with 14.2 million views. That being its third week in a row as the #1 most viewed English language film globally on Netflix.
Over a week later, on October 19, The Wrap reported that for the third consecutive week Reptile was the most-watched title of all films and tv shows across any streaming service.
Critical reception[]
Reptile received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 44% of 82 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Strong work from Benicio del Toro and Alicia Silverstone isn't enough to make up for Reptile's convoluted and ultimately underwhelming story." Metacritic assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
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