The Little Things Parent Guide

It’s been a long time since Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington) worked a case in Los Angeles. Instead, he’s taken up a post as a deputy sheriff in a small California county. Back in L.A. to transfer some evidence, Deke finds himself involved in Detective Jimmy Baxter’s (Remi Malek) hunt for a dangerous serial killer. The case reminds Deke of the last case he worked in L.A., and he’s willing to put in some overtime – but his methods don’t always line up with those familiar to Detective Baxter. The chase leads them to Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), who the police certainly suspect…but proving their suspicions is a different matter altogether. And time is running out.

While The Little Things isn’t suitable for families, it is far less unsuitable than many of the films in the genre. Brutal on-screen violence, heavy profanity, and some crude sexual dialogue are par for the course – and this production avoids most of that. The violence typically happens off-screen (with a few minor exceptions), the profanity is remarkably limited, and there aren’t a bunch of raunchy jokes. There are, however, some nude female corpses, references to strip clubs and prostitution, and a few instances of on-screen violence.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the movie itself. First up is the star-studded cast, and both Washington and Malek are excellent. Jared Leto does creepy well – if his behavior on the set of Suicide Squad is any indication, it comes naturally to him. What I like about this movie is that it takes itself seriously. Without spoiling anything, the story is replete with ethical dilemmas. This isn’t violence and nudity for fun. The Little Things takes serious problems and, while it doesn’t necessarily provide easy solutions, it demands that you confront the issues.

For genre fans, I’m sure this will be a welcome entry. There’s tension, moral ambiguity, and tragedy – important elements for neo-noir thrillers. Added to which, you’ve got an impressive cast and reasonable dialogue, which is a pleasant surprise at this point in my career. While this isn’t exactly unrestrained family fun, it is more compelling than I expected it to be. I’ll gladly take a surprise like this, even if the contents are horrifically depressing.