Parents' Guide to Reptile

Starring a brilliant Benicio del Toro, this detective noir employs an assortment of genre tools to construct its dark tale. Reptile, whose name is never fully explained, packs quite a lot into the fast-moving story, though at over two hours, it could have been condensed more. With a hangdog look and a world-weary air, del Toro plays the aging detective masterfully. The camera closes in on him, especially his eyes, frequently, and as his own skepticism and distrust grow, so does ours. But his character also has human foibles, from his deep and protective bond with his wife (a fabulous Silverstone) to his coveting of a fancy faucet for his kitchen remodel.

There are also more than a couple of hints that del Toro has something to hide in his past, as do most others in this cast of characters. As del Toro goes through the paces of the investigation, the film builds suspense with an onslaught of ominous music, unexpected camera angles, creepy scenarios, and frequent plot twists. All the while, the script (which del Toro and director Singer helped co-write) fleshes out subtle character details, from the way suspect Grady (an enigmatic Timberlake) is groomed by his doting mother, to the family and family-like relationships among the policemen. The production design also does a great job conveying the cops' lives, from wall-papered living rooms to square dancing and poker gatherings to homophobic jokes and other macho banter.