Reflection In a Dead Diamond – Review and Summary
Reflection In a Dead Diamond plays with the spy genre in ways to craft a unique voice in an archetype that has long become stale.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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What Is Reflection In A Dead Diamond About?
- Director(s): Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani
- Writer(s): Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani
- Distributor: Shudder
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 27 Minutes
- Public Release Date (Shudder): December 5, 2025
- Genre(s): Action, Mystery, Thriller
- Content Rating: Not Rated
- Primary Language: Non-English (French)
- More Information (External Link)
John Dimon is a spy, or at least he appears to be. As Reflection In a Dead Diamond plays out, it is hard to say if it is an actor playing a James Bond character or a spy with the cover of an actor. However, what is made very clear is that while John has many adversaries, the Joker to his Batman, if not Catwoman at times, is Serpentik.
She is a thief, a shapeshifter, the white whale of John’s life, and whether in his 20s to 30s or a man potentially twice that age, his head is on a perpetual swivel when it comes to Serpentik, the woman who has made the once Playboy unable to trust a single woman to settle down.
Cast and Characters
John Dimon – Past (Yannick Renier) & John Dimon – Present (Fabio Testi)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring Yannick Renier: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring Fabio Testi [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: A spy with a cover that makes him appear to be an actor, working on films based on a potential book series, John is a man seen as notably suave, the type of man others aspire to be, and whom women wish to seduce. However, his arch nemesis complicates his life and career to the point that it seems retirement won’t come from death but forced retirement.
Serpentik (Thi Mai Nguyen)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: A woman of 1000 faces, Serpentik not only sheds her skin but uses a potent venom to stun her victims. But, unlike a snake, she does nothing to hide the evidence of her kill and has no problem facing off with John, a gang of men, anyone.
What To Expect In “Reflection In a Dead Diamond” (Not Rated) – Content Overview
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Occasional
- Graphic Imagery or Violence:
- Gun Violence: Occasional
- Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Moderate (Context: Bleeding, Depiction of Open Wounds, Notable Disfigurement)
- Notable Violence: Torture, Intense Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content:
- Nudity: Non-Sexual/ Sexual (Context: Backside/Chest/Genitals)
- Sexual Situations: Implied
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
- Smoking: Yes
- Gross/ Disturbing Imagery: Vermin (Context: Insects)
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
The Cinematography [82/100]
Shudder partly steps out of its comfort zone with what the team behind Cattet and Forzani creates. This is far more stylish, with notable, almost David Lynch type shots. The kind that seems meant to cause unease, but then the film transitions to this scene, James Bond moments, where John is pushed to be suave, sexy, the spy you want when things need to be done.
But, no sooner than you think those are going to be the looks, someone peels their face off, and you don’t get full Cronenberg body-horror, but just enough of a taste to be a bit grossed out. All of which pushes Reflection In a Dead Diamond to be one of the few upcoming Shudder movies that feels like it deserves either the best home system or a theatrical viewing.
It’s Bizarre, But Not Alienating Bizarre [85/100]
Alongside the visuals, what makes Reflection In a Dead Diamond so great is that it is wonderfully bizarre. While the IMDB description paints the picture we’re watching a retired spy curious about a girl potentially going missing, there are multiple times in the film you question if that synopsis is a ruse?
Is this the life of a spy reminiscing about their greatest adversary? Is this an actor who played a spy for as long as he could, until he was disposed of and replaced? Possibly a mix of the two? Could the movie be about an old man who wants one more taste of grandeur, so he concocts the idea that the woman he has been watching for days has disappeared, and he needs to solve the mystery?
It’s hard to say, and that’s what keeps you hooked. Then add in Serpentik and other villains with their eccentricities, the violent moments they have fighting or killing, sometimes in quite creative ways, and it just throws you off more and more. I would even say Cattet and Forzani wanted to mix genres, or upend what is expected from your general spy movie, and their efforts pay off since you find yourself obligated to figuring out how this ends.
On The Fence
Both Versions Of John Are Forgettable [77/100]
Like most heroes in spy films, John, as the protagonist, isn’t the selling point here; it is the people he goes against. The younger version of John has his villains, implied sexual relations, and the ambiguity of whether he is a spy or an actor. Yet, it is the villains whom you take note of. Whether it is Serpentik or another who makes art using his victims pressed to a canvas, they are the ones who raise an eyebrow and hold your attention. John is but a medium at times, like a character you control in a first-person narrative game. It’s undeniable that he is the star, shining bright on others, but rarely presenting himself in the spotlight.
Then, with older John, he is introduced as a nostalgic old man. One who dispels the idea that his younger counterpart ever met significant harm, leaving the result of these battles feeling inevitably in John’s favor. So no matter how formidable, the villains are ultimately destined to fall.
But that is when the ambiguity of the film helps. Note: Reflection in a Dead Diamond doesn’t aim to set up a twist. Yet, there is always the possibility of misdirection that can be treated as a sleight of hand. After all, being a forgettable spy isn’t necessarily a flaw. In a film built on misdirection, John not drawing too much attention to himself may not be a liability, but an asset. Ultimately, it leaves room for the audience not to be fully cognizant of what is happening.
Overall
Our Rating (81/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)
Reflection in a Dead Diamond is an excellent palate cleanser. It’s odd enough to keep you guessing, but it doesn’t seem weird for the sake of it. There is the sense that there was a vision and that the film was never about spending every last dime of the budget to figure out a way to stand out. It wanted to take the familiar to lure you in, present something we rarely, if ever, see in its peers, and keep taking advantage of that until it was eventually something all of its own.
In the end, reminding you how to go from something aspired by icons of the genre to becoming inspirational for those who come next.
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