The ‘Top 10’ list on Netflix is a great way to see which movies and TV shows are proving popular and the latest film to reach #1, The Little Things, promises to be essential viewing.
Initially released in 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic meant movies were released at the theater and on streaming on the same day, a lot of people will have missed the crime thriller before its arrival on Netflix.
What is The Little Things about?
The Little Things follows Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe ‘Deke’ Deacon as he is sent to Los Angeles for what should be a brief evidence-gathering assignment.
Instead, the case opens a gnarly can of worms as Deke joins LA Sheriff Department Sergeant Jim Baxter in the hunt for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.
What’s worse is that the case bears many of the hallmarks of an unsolved case that has been plaguing Deke for decades.
The Little Things skulked its way onto Netflix on April 1, 2024, and the following day, the movie climbed its way to first place on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies list in the US.
Oscar-winning trio leads the cast
If the captivating mystery at the heart of The Little Things wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, then the movie’s trio of Oscar-winning stars may just grab your attention.
Starring as Joe ‘Deke’ Deacon in the movie is Denzel Washington, a Hollywood legend and two-time Oscar winner for his roles in Training Day (2001) and Glory (1989).
Joining him as Jim Baxter is Rami Malek, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor after starring as Freddie Mercury in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
And finally, taking on the role of Albert Sparma, the lead suspect in the serial killer case, is Jared Leto who earned the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club.
The unsolvable murder mystery [spoilers]
While most movies that center on the hunt for a serial killer will usually end with the murderer being discovered, that cannot be said of The Little Things.
Like the case that has plagued Deke for years, the hunt for the murderer remains unsolved by the end of the movie. Even though Jared Leto’s Albert Sparma may be a convincing suspect, he is never confirmed as the killer.
So if you’re hoping for a neat and tidy resolution, this movie may not be for you.
However, the killer’s identity is not the be-all and end-all of The Litte Things. Instead, it’s watching the psychological toll that such an investigation has on the investigating officers.
After Deke experienced the first-hand frustration of an unsolved case years earlier, he is perfectly placed to witness Baxter starting to develop the same destructive obsession.
But while the destination of The Little Things may be unexpected, the twists and turns of the journey to get there are captivating in their own right.
The Little Things is available to stream on Netflix in the US after arriving on April 1, 2024.
