Only 20 mins in, and my guess is.... - Reptile (2023) Discussion

[–] 000 (451) 7 months ago

major spoilers at this link
explains everything
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/reptile-ending-explained

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[–] Abracadabra (18) 7 months ago

Thanks for the link, read through it, however....

It still doesn't tell you who exactly is the murderer. Yeah sure they're all in on it, but who did the actual killing? I'm now guessing it's Wally, someone who's strong enough to embed a knife into her pelvis, who also seems to be into raping.

Also, Michael Pitts' character went unanswered. He's probably dead. But who was the person that came up behind him at his last scene? Probably Wally again

And what were they doing with his hand at the end??

I wish the director would reveal these answers to the audience.

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[–] DancingintheDark (1262) 7 months ago

The shedding of the hand bandage/healing solution scene was mirroring that of the shedded snake skin that Summer found before she was murdered.
It was a symbolic representation of Nichols shedding whatever weight he was carrying from his past, that of his crooked partner, and he redeemed himself or at the very least solidified his integrity and honor that may have been taken from him by the actions of his crooked partner.

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[–] Spuds (80) 7 months ago

sadly it isn't a very good movie, just one of those where they throw in as many red herrings as possible to muddle the story as if that is going to make a simple story somehow good. I quickly realized I didn't care who it was because the movie was just boring.

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[–] HarlemEagle42 (16220) 7 months ago

I'm with you there. I thought this was a tortuous slog. Could had been trimmed by fifteen minutes.

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[–] PinbackWiggly (375) 7 months ago

I mean, I liked hearing the process for how the bad guys were making money, but there was nothing special about the rest of the movie. It played like any 70s low budget crime drama. However, Benicio Del Toro definitely has a Charles Bronson feel to his acting, and I would say he is about 90% of the reason one might watch and enjoy (on some level) this movie. I would like to see Del Toro do a remake of Mr. Majestyk.

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[–] imjustasking (139) 7 months ago

You said it. Throw enough red herrings and it appears more complex/deep and you start to think maybe you just didn't "get it". No. It was just another assembly-line Netflix reject.

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[–] chilone (17284) 7 months ago

No. It wasn't a very good movie. It was an excellent movie. One of the best in recent times.

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[–] jcnyclv (1383) 7 months ago

When the movie starts his hand is already injured and his wife is bandaging it. His hand was probably re-injured during the shoot out at the end and again she was caring for it. I think that was very significant as it symbolizes they stayed together.

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[–] DancingintheDark (1262) 7 months ago

The shedding of the hand bandage/healing solution scene was mirroring that of the shedded snake skin that Summer found before she was murdered.
It was a symbolic representation of Nichols shedding whatever weight he was carrying from his past, that of his crooked partner, and he redeemed himself or at the very least solidified his integrity and honor that may have been taken from him by the actions of his crooked partner.

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[–] jcnyclv (1383) 7 months ago

It seems we're both right "What’s the meaning of the wax in Tom Nichols’ hand at the ending of Reptile? That image puzzled many viewers, wondering if that scene hides a darker explanation. But the simplest solution is always the most reliable: that was a paraffin wax bath, commonly used to provide relief to muscles and joints. Nichols had his hand injured since the beginning of the movie. However, seeing his wife removing the wax from his hands seems again a metaphor for shedding skin, reconnecting to the movie title."

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[–] Abracadabra (18) 7 months ago

Thanks! Didn't know that was a form of treatment.

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[–] jcnyclv (1383) 7 months ago

👍

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[–] dt123 (689) 7 months ago

I’ve hadvit myself at a physical therapy clinic. It is SO soothing. They alternate between ice and paraffin wax.

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[–] emori (3096) 7 months ago

Yeah. I actually want to give benefit of doubt for movies when they start showing characters being shady and look in your face guilty like few minutes after they are introduced and want to believe its a red herring and movie just tricks with us. But nope. All of the characters were guilty the moment they started looking shady like 1 hour before the end.

Only Michael Pitt was actually innocent. And I could tell it the moment they showed up at his door the first time.

And I laughed when Benicio started giving "you are shady, dude" to baldie. I actually hoped that it was a red herring and baldie is not on it. Because it was boring. But nope. And then he killed his boss for no reason at all. The one who was Uncle of Wife. Like Why? And what was the end goal? And on whose orders? Uncle was with them on it. Like that was just stupid. Baldie was a "soldier", not mastermind. He would do that only on orders. And there was no one to give it to him. Justin? His mommy? They are not murderous maniacs. They are just people who make money out of real estate scums.

Unless there were other higher up we weren't showed.

And Benicio going in that Uncle house and to his other boss? When he doesn't know who is on it? And didn't even make a copy of that flash drive? When the obvious way - just call feds and say your suspicions. At least they will know when your stupid ass will be shot in that Uncle House.

Like the moment his other boss asked him in the car if anyone else knows it - it was obvious he is on it too. Still Benicio went to that house. Weak writing.

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[–] lemner (190) 7 months ago

Wally was trying to shoot Tom, so the "motive" there was self-defense. Likewise, the boss was pulling a gun, because he had to choose between prison and risking getting shot.

Definitely, one wonders why they weren't more cautious, since they didn't know who they could trust. Why hand over the drive?

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