The Little Things – Review [HBO Max] (4/5)

THE LITTLE THINGS is a new thriller on HBO Max. A serial killer plot that feels eerily familiar and yet isn’t. The movie stars Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. The ending will no doubt divide viewers. Read our full The Little Things movie review here!

THE LITTLE THINGS is a new thriller on HBO Max. This one has been highly anticipated thanks to its cast and the fact that it’s a serial killer movie.

The movie stars Denzel Washington and Rami Malek as characters working for the police. Most noteworthy, however, will undoubtedly be the very creepy-looking Jared Leto. You’ll probably get that feeling just from watching the trailer since he leaves an impact with just seconds of screentime. But you do need to wait a while for him to appear on the screen.

Continue reading out spoiler-free The Little Things movie review below and check it out on HBO Max now.

The familiar yet different serial killer plot

The Little Things will draw in viewers due to its serial killer plot, which does seem familiar. However, it really isn’t once you get into the story. Obviously, we’re still dealing with police detectives chasing after an active serial killer, which has been seen and done before, but not like this.

Sure, very early on you might get the feeling that we’re dealing with a movie along the lines of Se7en even if it isn’t nearly as dark and sinister. It changes though and moves more into Zodiac territory. Yes, two great David Fincher movies that continue to move forward with even the smallest of clues.

After all, it’s in “the little things” you can find big clues.

Ultimately though, I felt it reminded me most of the Spanish movie Marshland. It was recently remade to a German version which is also worth checking out. And then there’s the ending of The Little Things which will definitely be a love it or hate it deal.

The ending of The Little Things on HBO Max

No, this isn’t one of those “The Little Things ending explained” features, we sometimes do here on Heaven of Horror. Instead, I wanted to include this paragraph because the ending of The Little Things will definitely get people talking. Much like the “What’s in the box?” ending of Se7en left its mark. However, once again, in a very different way.

Since people first screened this movie, audiences have been divided rather sharply in “I loved it” or “I don’t like it” camps. It seems there isn’t really room for anything else, which is a good thing in my book. Well, for the most part anyway. It certainly does tend to mean that the screenwriter and director have done something quite definitive.

With The Little Things ending, people will probably feel the need for more answers. We experienced this with the Netflix movie The Open House ending, which left people wanting more. Personally, I love both endings (though they are in no way similar) because they feel more brutal and realistic. After all, in what serial killer cases do we get all the answers we want?!

That’s why I do understand why people aren’t thrilled with the ending, even if I did like it. My point is simply that you should watch this movie without knowing too much and just decide how you feel about it. Without having anyone else try to influence your opinions and thoughts.

Watch The Little Things on HBO Max now!

John Lee Hancock is the writer and director of this new thriller on HBO Max. John Lee Hancock previously wrote and directed The Blind Side (2009) and adapted the screenplay for Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997).

I suspect people will watch this movie due to the serial killer plot and the cast. Denzel Washington (The Bone Collector) and Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) both deliver solid performances even if they seem like characters they’ve played before. And then there’s Jared Leto (who we’ll see in Morbius next) who is so good at being so creepy.

With a runtime of 2 hours and 7 minutes, I was afraid it would feel too long, but it didn’t. It is somewhat of a slow-burn but since it always moves forward and evolves, I was fine with this. Honestly, both the plot and cast alone are more than enough reason to check out this movie. Just be ready for an ending that might not be to your liking!

The Little Things is out in limited theaters and on HBO Max (for 1 month) from January 29, 2021.

Details

In Theaters: January 29, 2021 (US)
On HBO MAX: January 29, 2021
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, Rami Malek, Natalie Morales, Tom Hughes