Netflix’s Reptile has quickly become one of the – if not the – most streamed titles on the platform. But what is it that has caused the film to amass such popularity so quickly? Let’s take a look.
Soundtrack and Score
Music has the power to make or break any film. In fact, soundtracks have the power to make or break many types of media. Take something like online slots, for example – along with the visual aspects and the game mechanics, the use of music and sound effects make the gameplay more authentic and believable, and contribute towards the immersiveness of the game. With a game like Big Bass, the soundtrack is jaunty and positive, mirroring the brightness of the thematics – whereas Blood & Shadow is more dark and ominous, increasing the sense of suspense and making the spooky theme more realistic.
Since its release, however, Reptile has been praised for its use of sound and music throughout. Similar to Blood & Shadow, Reptile’s original score leans into the dark and twisted elements of its narrative. Composed by Berlin-based Yair Elazar Glotman (False Positive, Last and First Men), the film’s score is ominous and foreboding, pointing towards the trajectory and nature of the story to come. However, unlike other similarly-themed media, the unique thing about Reptile is it balances the sinister score with some clever song choices that you cannot help but sing along to, giving a cool, funky, and even comedic contrast to the somber score.Some of the highlights from the film’s soundtrack include Eternal Flame by The Bangles, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, Baby by Brandy, and the Forensic Files theme tune (yes, that iconic 90s and early 00s TV show!). Not only are the song choices themselves clever, but the way they are used is intelligent too, with Evie Sands’ Angel of the Morning playing in the beginning of the film, and Detective Tom Nichols’ (Benicio del Toro) ringtone of Brenton Woods’ The Oogum Boogum Song. All this contributes to a musicality that is certainly something to sing about with this film.
“Benicio Del Toro” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore
Cast and Crew
There’s no doubt that another element contributing towards Reptile’s success is its star-studded roster both on and off the screen. This crime thriller is the feature-film directorial debut of Grant Singer, a director who has previously worked primarily with musical artists like the Weeknd, Lorde, Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, and Skrillex. But this isn’t Singer’s only role – he also co-wrote the screenplay with Benjamin Brewer and Benicio del Toro, the latter of which takes up the mantle as the lead character.
The film follows del Toro’s Detective Nichols, a hardened detective who investigates a bloody crime in a coastal suburb in Maine. Along the way, Nichols finds that nothing is ever as it first appears, which allows him to reflect upon his own life and character in return. Del Toro is joined on screen by household names such as Justin Timberlake and Alicia Silverstone, as well as other famous faces like Michael Carmen Pitt, Ato Essandoh, thad Luckinbill, Frances Fisher, Matilda Lutz, and Sky Ferreira.
Reptile premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023. It is available for streaming now worldwide, exclusively on Netflix, and in select theaters across the US.
