Terrific trio let down by out of date script
Generic plot has nothing new to say
The Little Things DVD ●●●●● Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto starring in a throwback to the 1990s serial killer thriller? What’s not to love?
As it turns out, a few things as writerdirector John Lee Hancock’s (The Blind Side, Saving Mr Banks) script lets down his electrifying lead trio.
Not even their considerable star power can make up for the sedate pace and predictable developments that don’t so much pay tribute to the film’s genre influences as tread down the exact same path.
Washington stars as deputy sheriff Deke who is asked to join the hunt for a high-profile serial-killer by Malek’s Detective Baxter, with Leto’s Albert Sparma the prime suspect.
Fresh off redeeming his take on the Joker in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Leto gives another captivatingly creepy turn and the movie suffers when his intoxicating intensity isn’t on screen.
Washington could probably do this kind of role in his sleep and his experienced, soulful cop contrasts extremely well with Malek’s idealistic, on-edge younger counterpart.
With three top drawer performances at his disposal, Hancock should have been able to furnish us with his finest flick yet.
But the script he’s sat on for the best part of three decades never truly sizzles and his choice of desaturated colours unfortunately only serves to highlight how dull much of the two-hour-plus runtime is.
Hindered by its long-gestating source material, Hancock’s film doesn’t have anything new to say and genre fans will likely be able to signpost where it is heading long before the climax.
The director earns a pat on the back, though, with a memorable crime scene set in pitch black darkness that’s like the famous final showdown in The Silence of the Lambs if someone took Buffalo Bill’s night-vision goggle away from him.
With a dream cast The Little Things should have aimed bigger – and took a few classes in being less old school.
●What are your thoughts on The Little Things? Do you have a favourite 90s cop thriller?
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Julie McPherson got in touch to say: “The show Shadow and Bone on Netflix is very good fantasy fun.”