Netflix is constantly adding new films to its library, some that are stone-cold classics, and others that have a bit more of a mixed reputation.
This November, the streamer is adding 2021’s The Little Things to its content collection. The film follows two cops’ search for a serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles, while one of the cops harbors secrets that threaten to destabilize the case.
While the film played less well with critics, The Little Things does have its share of fans.
Watch With Us breaks down our defense, and why you should watch it this weekend.
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It Will Play Well For Fans of Crime Thrillers
The Little Things follows career veteran Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington) and rookie Sergeant James “Jimmy” Baxter (Rami Malek). After Deke sees a connection between a recent murder and an old cold case he was investigating, they team up to hunt down a serial killer who’s been haunting the Los Angeles area. Deke has a secret about his involvement in one of the previous murders, while the two cops become convinced that a shady criminal named Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) is their man.
The film might not be reinventing the wheel, but The Little Things boasts fun, throwback noir vibes. Fans of Zodiac and Se7en (both of which seem to have a clear influence here) are sure to dig the thriller and crime procedural vibes. The movie leans into its own stereotypes and genre clichés in a way that will likely satisfy those who can’t get enough of these kinds of stories.
The Film Is Equal Parts Pulpy and Goofy
Part of what makes The Little Things such a fun watch is that it takes itself very seriously, which is a genuine breath of fresh air during a time when Hollywood often seems allergic to the risks of unabashed earnestness. This is also coupled with a delightfully eccentric performance from Leto, from a character who seems genetically engineered in a lab to be a serial killer suspect.
Other aspects of the film require some leaps in logic and a degree of suspension of disbelief, and the film tries to cover up for the fact that plot holes and loose threads abound. But if you’re on the film’s wavelength, that’s a pretty easy task to accomplish. Part of the appeal of this type of ridiculous and overly-serious crime thriller is that they are flawed, and oftentimes, flaws only make for a far more interesting film.
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek Anchor the Film
Washington and Malek are fantastic actors in their own right, and together their performances help to elevate much of the film despite their characters being somewhat underwritten. Malek portrays Baxter as a bit of an odd dork, whereas Washington plays the grizzled elder statesman with more expertise than Baxter. The expertise that Baxter desperately needs if he’s gonna stand a chance at solving this case.
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While both men are extremely different and do their jobs very differently, they (perhaps obviously) end up realizing that they have more in common than they might have thought. Both have a knack for finding clues, and both men are tormented by their job long after they clock out — but Deke doesn’t really want Baxter to turn into him someday. Plus, when Leto’s character joins the film, it provides the two disparate detectives with a satisfying cat-and-mouse chase.
Stream The Little Things now on Netflix.
