The Little Things (2021)

The Little Things Poster

Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

Film Overview
"The Little Things" is a 2021 American criminal activity thriller movie composed and directed by John Lee Hancock. The movie includes a star-studded cast that consists of Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto and provides a gripping story that focuses on police treatments and serial killers.

Plot Summary
"The Little Things" begins with Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington) being sent out to Los Angeles for a quick proof gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is intimidating the city. The lead detective on the case is the suave, confident, Sergeant Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), who is awed by Deacon's previous authorities track record and intuitiveness about serial killers.

The examination quickly zeroes in on an oddball loner, Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), who seems to take a disturbing satisfaction in taunting the authorities. In spite of the mounting pieces of circumstantial evidence, firm proof to pin the killer's identity on Sparma is elusive.

Remarkable Turn Of Events
Performing without official approval, Baxter and Deacon decide to tail Sparma, causing a series of cat-and-mouse video games. The plot takes a substantial turn when Sparma offers to reveal Baxter where he has actually allegedly hidden a current victim. The journey leads to the middle of the desert where, in a fit of aggravation and anger, Baxter hits Sparma with a shovel, causing his death.

Resolution and Twist
Deacon assists Baxter in covering the deed, ensuring that any trace of them being present at the murder scene is gotten rid of, making it look like if Sparma had simply disappeared. Deacon later sends Baxter a red barrette, identical to the one used by one of the killer's victims-- providing a sense of closure that Sparma was certainly the serial killer. However, in a last twist, it is revealed that Deacon purchased the barrette from a local store, leaving the possibility hanging that Sparma might not have actually been the killer after all.

Concluding Thoughts
"The Little Things" keeps the audience guessing with its slow-burn thriller and psychological stress. The film digs deep into the fatalistic psyche of its law enforcement officer, who are haunted by their previous cases. All this is highlighted by the masterful performances by Washington, Malek, and Leto.

Nevertheless, in spite of its complex plot, the recurring theme is the fixation that pervades a cop's mind when unraveling a criminal activity, and how the fixation with 'the little things' can typically lead one down a course of self-destruction. It's a dark, moody criminal offense thriller that doesn't use clear answers, leaving the audience in a cloud of intriguing obscurity.

Top Cast

  • Denzel Washington (small)
    Denzel Washington
    Joe "Deke" Deacon
  • Rami Malek (small)
    Rami Malek
    Jim Baxter
  • Jared Leto (small)
    Jared Leto
    Albert Sparma
  • Chris Bauer (small)
    Chris Bauer
    Detective Sal Rizoli
  • Michael Hyatt (small)
    Michael Hyatt
    Flo Dunigan
  • Terry Kinney (small)
    Terry Kinney
    LASD Captain Carl Farris
  • Natalie Morales (small)
    Natalie Morales
    Detective Jamie Estrada
  • Isabel Arraiza (small)
    Isabel Arraiza
    Ana Baxter
  • Joris Jarsky (small)
    Joris Jarsky
    Detective Sergeant Rogers
  • Glenn Morshower (small)
    Glenn Morshower
    Captain Henry Davis
  • Sofia Vassilieva (small)
    Sofia Vassilieva
    Tina Salvatore