The Little Things (2025) continues the psychological crime-thriller story that first began in the 2021 film. This new chapter follows Detective Joe “Deke” Deacon, years after the haunting case in Los Angeles that left him questioning his own morality and judgment. Now retired from official police work, Deke lives quietly, but his peace is disrupted when a new series of murders begins to surface, eerily similar to the unsolved crimes that haunted him before. Drawn back into the shadows, Deke realizes he cannot escape the ghosts of his past, and this case may hold the answers he has been searching for.
The film reintroduces Jim Baxter, the young detective who once worked alongside Deke. Baxter is now more experienced, but the lingering trauma of their last encounter remains with him. Their uneasy partnership is rekindled as they are forced to confront a disturbing pattern of killings that suggests the return of an elusive predator. The murders are staged in chillingly meticulous ways, emphasizing the idea that the killer is playing a psychological game with the investigators, pulling them deeper into obsession and doubt.
As the investigation progresses, the line between hunter and hunted grows increasingly blurred. Deke struggles with guilt over past decisions, while Baxter becomes consumed with the need to prove himself capable of solving the case without repeating old mistakes. Their pursuit leads them through dark alleys, abandoned motels, and hidden corners of Los Angeles, each scene echoing the unsettling tension that made the first film so haunting. The deeper they dive, the more they discover connections to victims who seemed completely unrelated, tied together only by the killer’s twisted sense of control.
The film also introduces new characters, including a forensic psychologist who attempts to profile the murderer but soon finds herself drawn into the psychological traps set by him. Supporting officers and witnesses add complexity, each holding fragments of information that deepen the mystery. Trust becomes fragile, as both Deke and Baxter question not only each other but also their own instincts, unsure if they are being manipulated from the very start.
What sets The Little Things (2025) apart is its exploration of obsession and the price of truth. Instead of offering simple answers, the narrative forces the audience to confront the unsettling notion that justice is rarely clear, and sometimes the pursuit of closure only opens deeper wounds. The killer’s presence lingers like a shadow throughout, rarely seen but always felt, making the tension unbearable.
By the final act, the film builds to an intense climax where past and present collide. Deke and Baxter must face the consequences of their earlier choices, realizing that their personal demons are as dangerous as the criminal they hunt. The ending leaves viewers unsettled, walking the fine line between revelation and ambiguity, a reminder that in the world of crime and justice, it is always the little things that matter most.
