Today’s quick review: The Little Things. Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington), a former Los Angeles detective, volunteers to help Jimmy Baxter (Rami Malek), his replacement, solve a series of grisly murders that are connected to Deacon’s last case. As the investigation drags on with no solid leads, the men become fixated on one suspect (Jared Leto) who could either be a fiendishly clever killer or an innocent man with no relation to the case.
The Little Things is a crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. The movie follows a murder investigation that begins to consume the lives of two detectives. The Little Things aims to be a haunting, ambiguous story about the fine line between persistence and obsession. Strong acting and an intriguing mystery give the movie some substance, but its slow pacing and understated thrills leave something to be desired.
The strength of The Little Things lies with its ambiguity. Deacon and Baxter accumulate enough circumstantial evidence to finger Leto’s character as the killer, but concrete proof is elusive. Deacon’s unresolved issues from his last case and Baxter’s horror at the current spree of murders are a powerful motivation. The movie finds compelling ways to explore the question of whether the detectives are on the right track or deluding themselves.
However, The Little Things does not plant its hook as strongly as other thrillers. There is a sense of menace and uncertainty throughout the movie, but not the immediate danger seen with other serial killers. This leads to lower stakes, tied more to the detectives’ investment in the case than actually stopping the killer. The Little Things also builds to a hit-or-miss ending that will shock some viewers and leave others underwhelmed.
The Little Things fits comfortably into the darker side of the crime genre. The beats of the story are not all that different from other serial killer investigations, but between a talented cast and some nicely orchestrated ambiguity, The Little Things makes its own mark. Try it out when you feel like a moody investigation that raises troubling moral questions. Skip it if you are looking for faster-paced thrills or something with clearer answers.
For a haunting crime thriller that toys with similar ideas, try Secrets in Their Eyes. For a sharper and more horrific serial killer investigation, check out Se7en. For one with a greater emphasis on the facts of the case, check out Zodiac. For another well-constructed thriller about a fraying detective, try Insomnia.
[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10016180/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid acting and an engaging mystery that suffers from a lack of immediacy.