Reptile Ending Explained: Who is the Prime Suspect in the Murder Case? Who Killed Summer Elswick?
From September 29, 2023, Reptile is available on Netflix. This is the new film directed by Grant Singer with Justin Timberlake and Benicio del Toro. The plot begins with a terrible murder of a real estate agent. An investigator tries to discover the truth about the crime, in which nothing is really as it seems. In this long journey, he finds himself having to question the certainties of his own life. But let’s now see together how the film ends, who killed Summer and why. The plot revolves around Tom Nichols, a veteran police detective, tasked with investigating the mysterious murder of Summer Elswick, a real estate agent. The crime takes place in a house that she is about to show to potential buyers. The narrative unfolds slowly, revealing secrets and twists over approximately 130 minutes.
Reptile offers an immersive viewing experience, although perhaps not stimulating deep reflection. The premise of any good self-respecting thriller is that nothing should be as it seems. And Reptile by Grant Singer, with Benicio Del Toro and Justin Timberlake fully respects this golden rule of crime. And it does so with a film, available in Italy on Netflix from 6 October (here you can find our review), in which the murder of a young and beautiful real estate agent uncovers buried truths in a quiet New England town. Who killed Summer Elswick? We will find out in the explanation of the ending of Reptile.
Reptile 2023 Netflix Film: Plot Summary
Reptile begins with real estate agent couple Will Grady and Summer Elswick visiting a house in Whitcomb, a seemingly abandoned neighborhood. The site appears neglected, with evidence of rat infestation and even a snake. As the day progresses, tension between the couple intensifies, with Summer rejecting Will’s advances. We later discovered that Summer was having an extramarital affair, a clear sign of trouble in their relationship. Meanwhile, Tom Nichols, a police detective, is introduced during a party with friends, including Robert Allen, an uncle of his wife, Judy. Tom and Robert have a close relationship. Tom and his partner, Dan Cleary, are called to investigate the murder at the house in Whitcomb, unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
The plot of the film Reptile begins with an unhappy couple, composed of Will Grady and Summer Elswick. The two are real estate agents and are working on a property that they need to show to new buyers. It is immediately clear to the viewer that there are problems between them and that she is having a secret relationship. Summer has nightmares about being discovered by Will. A few days later, the woman returns to that property, and someone enters through the back door. And when he arrives, Will finds Summer dead, stabbed with a knife. Meanwhile, the public gets to know Detective Tom during a nice dinner with Captain Robert Allen and their wives.
They are interrupted by a call about a murder. When they arrive on site and question Will, Tom immediately appears suspicious. The investigations led to the discovery that Summer was killed with 33 stab wounds and that the neighbor saw a car stop in front of that house. The first to end up among the suspects is Sam, the husband from whom Summer had yet to divorce. The reason is linked to his way of walking, as the neighbor claims to have seen a person limping near the car. Her alibi is weak, but he denies killing her. Another suspect is Eli, whose family found themselves forced to leave their home for Will and his mother Camille. His father committed suicide and is obsessed with Will.
Reptile Ending Explained: Who is the Prime Suspect in the Murder Case?
Tom arrives at the truth by examining in detail the contents of the flash drive stolen by Eli (who was also killed). Grady and the corrupt police officers had been acting together for years, controlling the drug trafficking that Wally placed on the market. And which was used to requisition homes from poor families, including Eli’s. At this point White Fish bought the confiscated homes at a negligible price, reselling them at a higher cost. Summer was therefore an essential part of the scheme, but now tired of the scam, she intended to talk about it with the FBI. This is why she was killed by Wally, with Will’s approval and Allen and Graeber’s cover. All accomplices and all parts of a criminal mechanism are created to make money. The showdown is dramatic. Nichols gives the flash drive to Graeber, unaware that his colleague is also involved in the story.
He then shows up at Allen’s house, with the idea of asking his friend why he was keeping Wally’s car in his garage. Allen, who is still very close to Tom, given that he married his niece Judy, tries to warn the man. He then tells him to run away, because the situation is now irreversible. Shortly thereafter Allen is killed by Wally. Face to face with Graeber, Nichols tries to make him stop but hits him before being hit himself. The last one he confronts is Wally. Nichols doesn’t feel like shooting him, but by chance, a Frisbee thrown by some children hits the window where the duel is taking place. A random shot then goes off which seriously injures Wally. Tom is also shocked but remains alive. At the end of the story, Tom, bruised but freed from that burden, can enjoy Judy’s love and her house with the new kitchen. Will is arrested by the feds while he plays golf.
An Unspeakable Secret?
To shed light on a murder you need to follow all possible leads. The first suspect is Will himself, who, however, proves to be very cooperative with the agents. The second to end up under the scrutiny of the investigators is Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman), Summer‘s ex-husband, with whom the woman was still dating. A repelling man who seems to hide more than one secret. And that he appears to have been the last to see the girl alive. When Tom approaches him, the man remains defensive. During a subsequent meeting, Sam, who creates questionable works of art with women’s hair, threatens the cops. Tom kills him in self-defense. At this point Allen pressures Tom to close the case immediately, having identified the possible culprit who, moreover, had a large quantity of heroin with him to sell. Tom, who in the meantime is awarded the Medal of Valor, however, believes that the truth is still distant. Checking the victim’s photos, he notices a bite mark on his hands. He suggests taking a dental cast from Sam to see if he matches, but the results are inconclusive.
The Third Man?
A third man appears involved in the story, Eli Philips (Michael Pitt), a young misfit who seems to have a score to settle with Will. Many factors make Eli the perfect culprit. The not-so-hidden hatred for Will, his scruffy appearance. And above all the fact that the boy entered Grady’s office to pick up something very important. To complete the picture, the break-in at Tom’s house must also be included, where Eli shows up at night, promptly rejected by Judy, to give the policeman what he took from Will’s study. It is a USB stick containing compromising documents. The circle around Grady slowly tightens. During the investigations, the actions of a mysterious Grady real estate company, White Fish, which specializes in the buying and selling of confiscated houses, emerge. Summer took care of their sales, but without taking any kind of commission. This makes Tom quite suspicious and, working on the sources, he connects Wally’s presence to the crime scene. Her Chrysler was seen by a witness leaving the house where the girl had been killed.
Who is the Prime Suspect in the Murder Case?
As the investigation progresses, police find clues, including a witness from a neighbor who saw a man enter the house that day. The man had a slight limp, and a car was seen leaving the scene later. A review of security cameras reveals that the car in question was a maroon Chrysler Imperial, although it has not been found. The first suspect is Eli Phillips, a man with long-standing ties to the Grady family. Years ago, the Gradys purchased the property from Eli’s family, who holds the Gradys responsible for his father’s death and holds a grudge. Eli is interrogated, but he claims his goal is to expose Will Grady’s illegal activities. The second suspect is Sam Gifford, Summer‘s ex-husband, who has a suspicious history of collecting locks of women’s hair. Sam’s DNA is found on Summer‘s body, which indicates that they had recently been intimate. However, Sam vehemently denies being the killer. An attempt to arrest Sam Gifford ends tragically when he obtains Dan Cleary’s gun and engages in a shootout with the police. Tom shoots in self-defense, killing Sam, but doubts arise about the killer’s true identity.
Who Killed Summer Elswick?
As the plot unfolds, the complexity of the Reptile becomes evident, with several twists and suspects. Eventually, Tom discovers that Summer Elswick‘s real killer is Will Grady, her boyfriend. However, the reason goes beyond a jealous relationship and discovered betrayal. Tom discovers that Will and his mother, Camille, are involved in a real estate corruption scheme. They are selling drug-infested homes, which are later confiscated as civil assets. A mysterious company called White Fish Assets Inc. acquires these houses at very low prices, while Will Grady later resells them. Local police are also involved in the scheme. Tom is shocked to discover that the company White Fish Assets is owned by his close friends Wally Finn and Will Grady.
Additionally, Wally’s private security company, called Active Duty Security Consulting, is a front for drug trafficking. Wally is responsible for planting drugs in homes and facilitating the criminal scheme. Summer, the real estate agent, discovers Will and Camille’s corruption scheme. The homes Summer allegedly sold were used for drug trafficking, which prevented her from receiving legitimate commissions. She threatens to expose the scheme and may have become involved in an extramarital relationship. In response, Will kills Summer at the Whitcomb house. The killer’s identity is confirmed when Tom discovers the car used by Will for the crime, which was hidden in Captain Robert Allen’s garage. Tom realizes that Allen is also in on the scheme. The film reveals a network of corruption that involves all levels of the local police.
What Does Tom Nichols Do in the End?
At the climax of “Chameleons,” Tom realizes the extent of police corruption, and a deadly confrontation ensues. Captain Allen and Wally are killed, while Tom survives with a hand wound. Tom calls 911 but says nothing, suggesting he is hesitant to report the incident to the police and tarnish the names of his fallen colleagues. However, we see higher authorities, possibly the FBI, arresting Will Grady, indicating that Tom has finally exposed the scheme. All high-ranking police officers were aware of Grady’s scam and were involved in his payroll. The film leaves some questions unanswered, such as the fate of Eli Phillips and whether Tom’s partner Dan Cleary was involved in the scheme.
Reptile explores the transformation of Tom, who had faced a similar situation of police corruption in the past but failed to act. His decision to stand up to his corrupt colleagues reflects his moral growth and determination to do the right thing, regardless of how close they are. Although the film Reptile leaves some loose ends regarding the fate of the characters, the arrest of Will Grady and the revelation of corruption are crucial blows against organized crime in the city. Reptile is a dark and intriguing story of betrayal, corruption, and the relentless pursuit of justice that will captivate viewers from start to finish.
What Happened in the Final Shooting?
Tom goes to Allen’s house, where the latter warns him that he should not trust any of his companions. Immediately, a shootout ensues, in which Wally kills Allen and Tom kills Marty. The two survivors confront each other, but a minor distraction allows Tom to shoot Wally in the leg, incapacitating him. With a gunshot wound to his hand, Tom calls 911. However, he doesn’t say anything… For a moment, it seems like he refuses to report his deceased colleagues.
