The Little Things is a neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and produced by Hancock and Mark Johnson, which was released in 2021. The film follows detectives (Denzel Washington and Rami Malek) as they investigate a succession of murders, which leads them to a weird recluse who may be the perpetrator (Jared Leto).

The script was developed in 1993, and several people were linked to direct or act in it while it was stuck in development hell. In 2019, it was announced that Hancock will direct the film, and Malek, Leto, and Washington would play the key roles. Principal photography began on September 2, 2019, in Los Angeles and ended in December 2019.

Warner Bros. Pictures premiered The Little Things in the United States on January 29, 2021, both theatrically and for a month on the HBO Max streaming service. Critics gave the picture mixed reviews, including admiration for the performances. Leto was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance.

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Cast of The Little Thing

Joe “Deke” Deacon of the KCSO is played by Denzel Washington.

Jim Baxter of the LASD is played by Rami Malek.

Albert Sparma is played by Jared Leto.

Detective Chris Bauer Rizoli, Sal

Flo Dunigan is played by Michael Hyatt.

Captain Carl Farris of the LASD is played by Terry Kinney.

Detective Jamie Estrada is played by Natalie Morales.

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Ending Explanation:

During his surveillance of Sparma, Baxter isolates the suspect and demands to know where Rathbun is. Sparma offers to drive him to the location where he claims to have buried Rathbun’s body. Deacon covertly follows Baxter as he warily accepts. Sparma takes Baxter to a secluded desert location and forces him to dig multiple holes before assuring him that he has never killed anyone.

The Little Things Baxter continues to dig despite his skepticism. Sparma starts taunting him until Baxter breaks and slams the shovel into his face, killing him. As Deacon arrives, a flashback reveals that he shot the only survivor of his previous murder case by accident and that Farris and the coroner, Dunigan, assisted in the cover-up. Baxter is told by Deacon to bury Sparma in the desert.

The Little Things

Deacon spends the night going through Sparma’s flat and getting rid of his car. The next morning, he travels to the desert to find that Baxter has not buried Sparma but is still looking for the victim, desperate to think Sparma is the murderer. Deacon, who is troubled by the earlier victims in his waking dreams, tells Baxter to forget about the case or it will follow him for the rest of his life.

The Little Things

Baxter later receives a package from Deacon with a red barrette similar to the one Ronda Rathbun wore when she was kidnapped. Deacon burns everything he acquired in the apartment, including a brand new pack of barrettes that are missing the red one when he returns to Kern County. As he goes away, the movie ends.