Reptile, the recent Netflix film, has turned out to be much more than just a typical thriller flick released on the platform every once in a while. Instead, it was a mind-blowing film that brought more questions than it answered.
That being said, the film maintained its pace from the beginning to the end while leaving plenty of scenarios where the audiences were perplexed. Furthermore, the viewers are also confused with the ending as the implications are difficult to follow.
So, what does the ending of Reptile mean? And what are the incoherent implications left during the climax and through the film?
Reptile Movie Ending Explained: Who Killed Summer?
Although Reptile starts as a film that introduces a happy couple from the real estate profession, it gradually builds the story by sharing the negative tension between Will and Summer.
However, the movie drops the bomb by killing Summer very early, and the audience is left searching for answers by carefully watching through every minute.
Not until the final scene is it revealed that Summer was killed by Will Grady, her boyfriend. While many may believe it was because of a foreshadowing where Summer is falsely shown to be cheating on him, it is not.
After Detective Tom chases the leads and suspects Summer’s ex-husband, he finds a significant clue and traces the burner phone to Will and convinces that he’s the one who killed his girlfriend.
Furthermore, the main reason is later revealed that the entire department where Tom works is corrupted by their Police Chief, Wally. Apparently, Will has been directly involved in Wally’s plan.
As the chief of the police, Wally plants drugs in several high-value houses, and once their value drops, Will swoops in and buys them, selling them for higher profits. But Summer is the one who does Will’s bidding without knowing about their master plan.
She also doesn’t get any commissions because Wally is too greedy, which leads to his doom as Tom eventually connects it to the White Fish, the shell company responsible for buying all the drug-planted houses.
Once Summer realizes something is wrong with the houses she has been dealing with, she collects evidence of drug plants and prepares to contact the FBI. Before she can do that, Will kills her to avoid that situation.
Why Was the Movie Titled Reptile?
The main title is one of the film’s most appealing aspects and has a sensible reason behind it. A reptile thrives by shedding skin and by revealing an entirely different skin.
The title heavily refers to the nature of these animals, as almost every character introduced in the movie is not what they seem at the beginning. Even the leading investigator, Tom, is not what we expect him to be.
He was an accused cop who was believed to be corrupted but is on a path of redemption—thus, he makes it his mission to solve the case of Summer.
Likewise, the characters of Will, Eli Philips, and Sam all flipped the viewers’ perspectives by the film’s conclusion. This is the main reason why the film was titled “Reptile.”
What Does the Hand and Wax Mean at the End?
During the ending scene, Tom is seen taking a paraffin wax bath, which many believe bears another explanation. However, it represents what film has been striving to do since the beginning.
A wax is used to relieve muscle and joint pains, and it is shown that Tom’s wife removes wax from his hands, meaning he has finally had redemption for what he may have done in the past.
Removing the wax is like him shedding his old skin and gaining a new perspective on his life. So, that’s what Wax and Hand signify in the film.
The film leaves a lot to be desired but only in terms of explanation, but if you contemplate everything carefully, you will find answers. Overall, Reptile was a fantastic thriller that deserves all the praise it gets.
So, have you understood the significance behind the film’s premise? What are your thoughts on it? Let us know your stance in the comment section below.
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