Movie review
January 28, 2021 · 128 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Little Things is a 2021 neo-noir crime thriller set in early 1990s Los Angeles. Two male detectives team up to hunt a serial killer targeting women, with the story centering on obsession, guilt, and how the pursuit of justice damages the pursuers personally. The film delivers a straightforward procedural with strong lead performances and no audience-visible identity politics, representation messaging, or social-justice framing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Little Things.
Woke representation / casting
Natural casting of a Black lead detective and diverse supporting players fits the 1990s Los Angeles setting with no visible identity signaling, diversity emphasis, or mismatched swaps.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays on investigation details, suspect games, and personal regrets with zero activist language or modern political framing.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story examines obsession and guilt through male characters; no race, gender, sexuality, or identity-based arcs or messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Shows individual cops corrupted by obsession and making moral compromises in a 1990s context; presented as personal psychological drama, not modern activist attacks on policing, patriarchy, or Western institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant — original story with no source material alterations.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No anti-woke or right-leaning complaints about DEI, identity politics, or activist messaging; public debate stayed on ending and pace.
Creator track record context
John Lee Hancock’s body of work and key producers show mainstream commercial and historical focus; minimal signals from supporting roles like the script supervisor’s DEI committee work.
Production
