Reptilethe poison is in the details
The autumn thriller on Netflix is called Reptile and was firmly established first place in the Top 10 upon its release on October 5, 2023. In this patient and elegantly understated crime film, breathtaking tension develops around the investigation into the murder of real estate agent Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz), led by Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro).
Without giving away anything about its twisty plot, we can still say it Reptilebesides being an excellent thriller, it is also a story integrity. Of a man who tells the woman in his life that he loves his job as a policeman almost as much as she does, and how determined he is to defend the moral principles that motivated him to do this job.
In this performance, Benicio Del Toro is captivating, all in quiet strength and righteousness. No outbursts of anger, no moments of “courage”, but a patient and fascinating definition of her character at all times. Reptile. To enrich his character, the authors of the film – of which the actor himself is a co-writer – had the interesting idea of making him wear an earring. You might think it’s just a detail, a pure decoration, but it’s the reality the presence and absence of this accessory has meaning.
A very significant accessory
In this visually very careful creation, nothing is left to chance. After the introduction dedicated to Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), we discover Tom Nichols, with his colleagues and friends in a restaurant. He has a ring in his left ear, clearly visible in a close-up shot. Called to the crime scene with Robert Allen (Eric Bogosian), his superior, they travel in the car and a shot focuses on Tom Nichols who removes his earring. From that moment on he will no longer wear it never when he works, and always when he doesn’t work.
So when he first searches Will Grady’s house, he doesn’t wear it, and he doesn’t wear it when he visits Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman) or Eli Philips (Michael Pitt) either. But when he has lunch with colleagues one weekend, he wears it. The scheme is as follows: no earrings at work, earrings in intimate and leisure moments.
We can therefore interpret it from this perspective where Tom Nichols, very respectful of his position, erases part of his personality so as not to draw attention to anything other than the fact that he is a policeman and he works. But let’s not forget it Reptile is offered a metaphor playing with his title. At the beginning of the film, Summer comes across a house that she sells for a snakeskin. At the end of the film, it is Tom Nichols’ hand that offers a new image of a snake’s moult. A transformation to say: who are people really? They are able to change their “skin” ?
Two identities?
The policeman’s earring discreetly reinforces this metaphor. Does Tom Nichols have two skins? ? The one with and without the earring? If he had to have only one, it would be the one with the earring, since he wears it on his person two moments of “truth”when he goes to a psychologist after the shooting with Sam, and during the climax and plot resolution sequence.
A man of integrity therefore, and a man Cold also, which above all remains the same despite this subtle change in appearance. While the film’s antagonists have two identities, a criminal identity in addition to their current identity, without this ever being signified in their appearance…
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
