Crime Thriller Tops Netflix Charts, “A Reminder of Good Storytelling”

Reptile Netflix

Toronto International Film Festival sensation Reptile, which wowed audiences with its blend of Gothicism and noir sensibilities, landed on Netflix over the weekend. Now, it’s the number one most-streamed movie in the United States.

According to the Netflix synopsis, in Reptile, “A hardened detective uncovers a complex web of deception as he digs for the truth behind the brutal murder of a young real estate agent.”

The crime thriller stars Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro (always a plus), Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone, whose own genre reemergence can be seen in this year’s Perpetrator or last year’s The Requin (however, the less said about the latter, the better). Critics have been highlighting Reptile‘s sundry twists, phenomenal performances, and debut feature director Grant Singer’s meticulous, Fincher-like direction. Fans have been having a sensational time with the film, too, highlighting its plot twists, direction, and del Toro’s performance in particular.

Check out what fans are saying about the Netflix thriller online below:

https://twitter.com/GenebenTan94/status/1708874741266956424?s=20
https://twitter.com/K4NGI/status/1708857190344200203?s=20
https://twitter.com/zarenky1/status/1708843760690327928?s=20

The True Detective comparisons are apt, with Reptile cultivating an oppressive atmosphere and mood as effectively as it does a stirring narrative abounding with misdirects and reveals. Singer additionally makes phenomenal use of his visual prowess, drawing from his work on music videos for the likes of Sam Smith, The Weeknd, and Ariana Grande for a crime thriller as visually stunning as it is engaging. Whether Reptile endures beyond the week remains to be seen. Netflix thrillers in particular often land big before disappearing into the void of new releases. But for this week at least, Reptile has proven it has bite.

What do you think? Have you had a chance to check out Reptile on Netflix? How would you compare it to some of Netflix’s other original thrillers? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins!

Tags:

Categorized:

Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter