With overt influences from 1995’s Seven, we get an experienced cop (Washington as “Deke” Deacon) who has left the LAPD for a smaller force after a heart attack and his own murky history. The new hot shot is Remi Malek as Jimmy Baxter (taking the Brad Pitt role) whose smarmy exterior clashes with Deke’s old school methodical style. 

Seeing a pattern between one of Deke’s old cases and a current spate of killings, they stumble upon suspect Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) who taunts the officers after becoming the prime person of interest.

Again, like Seven, our cocky lead is later shown not to be in control of the situation as he’d like as we roll through the standard beats of a multiple-murder movie. However, much unlike Seven, it’s quite obvious from the outset who the culprit could be and so the obvious mystery element needed for police procedural flicks is pretty much absent. Detective Deke’s own secret is perhaps a more interesting angle the film could have focused on.

And like his previous film The Highwaymen, Hancock’s central plot has huge aspects of potential but the slow pacing and lack of intrigue hurts this film much like that one. Jared Leto is the film’s highlight, as he appears to be having a ball delivering arrogant retorts as the overconfident accused, whilst the film’s dark score captivates when the film does not.

A one-note thriller with only a few thrills, The Little Things may pull you into the case on the basis of the three fantastic actors. But aside from these performances, you’d have to be a heck of a detective to find anything truly original, and ultimately fascinating in this average Fincher facsimile. 

★★½