Murder Mystery Starring ’90s Pop Idol Is Crushing It On Netflix
If you’ve been burned out on the lack of good murder mysteries on streaming, we’ve got four magic words for you: “cry me a river.” Of course, we’re not being mean when we say that…we’re just reminding you of a happier, more carefree time when you were vibing out to the killer lyrics of ‘90s pop idol Justin Timberlake instead of lamenting the lack of movies to watch. If you’d like to scratch your itch for compelling murder mystery movies and JT simultaneously, then it’s time you stream Reptile on Netflix.
The murder mystery Reptile streaming on Netflix features Justin Timberlake in a very different type of role for the pop star.
What, though, is Reptile actually about? While the name of the film might make you think it’s a creature feature that will be right at home during the spooky season, the movie is actually about a heroic and hardboiled detective who is investigating the death of a youthful real estate agent who had her whole life ahead of him. In the genre’s finest traditions, though, the detective discovers how each new clue leads to a new mystery, and he confronts some hard truths about the lies he has been living under as both his case and his life begin to unravel.
If you’ve got a Raymond Chandler checklist handy, you’ve probably discovered just how many murder/mystery boxes Reptile manages to check. Whether or not they love Justin Timberlake, that makes the movie perfect for longtime fans of the genre who are looking to experience something new. At the same time, this movie so lovingly wallows in all the tropes and trappings of the genre that it makes a great introductory film for newcomers just dipping their toes in the chilly waters of such films.
We think Reptile has such broad appeal because it has some very familiar faces who help bring the story to life. For example, Benicio del Toro plays the hardboiled detective we mentioned before, and this actor has the experience and gravitas necessary to make every moment of his investigation seem coolly compelling. In stark contrast to del Toro, Justin Timberlake plays the boyfriend of the murdered real estate agent (played perfectly by Matilda Lutz).
Interestingly, while it’s Justin Timberlake that has arguably garnered the most attention, this movie is mostly a tour-de-force from Benicio del Toro.
Incidentally, if Justin Timberlake isn’t enough of a blast from the past for you, Reptile also stars Alicia Silverstone. She plays Benecio del Toro’s wife, and the two have an interesting chemistry as she supports him through this difficult case. However, in any good murder/mystery, viewers are forced to question whether they can trust her (or anyone else, for that matter) right up until the credits start rolling.
While Justin Timberlake is no stranger to acting roles, we imagine he felt a bit more at home on the set of Reptile than he usually does. That’s because the film was directed by Grant Singer, a veteran music video director who made his Hollywood directorial debut with this movie. While Singer never directed any Justin Timberlake videos, we imagine the director’s experience with fellow big-name singers like Taylor Swift helped him find some common culture with the former N’Sync member.
Unfortunately, when Reptile first came out, critics weren’t sure what to make of it: the movie currently has a 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. With that being said, critics praised the strong performances of actors like Benicio del Toro, Alicia Silverstone, and Justin Timberlake. It should be noted that the movie has an audience score of 77 percent, proving that the film is a crowd-pleaser for audiences hungry to sink their teeth into a new murder/mystery movie.
Justin Timberlake is about to have a busy 2022; with the success of Reptile and the upcoming Trolls sequel, he’s bringing sexy back in 2023.
Interestingly, while it’s Justin Timberlake that has arguably garnered the most attention, this movie is mostly a tour-de-force from Benicio del Toro. Not only does he give a knockout performance as the film’s lead, but the accomplished actor also helped to write the script. For fans of del Toro (and that’s most definitely us), it’s awesome to see him taking more direct control of the films he stars in.
Ultimately, Reptile is a movie that blends a great script and powerful performances from Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and many more talented actors. And as directorial debuts go, this was one hell of a freshman effort from Grant Singer. But you don’t have to take our word for it: time to put on your coziest home detective clothing and stream Reptile on Netflix today.
