Destroyer
Film
Review by Kam Williams
Nicole
Kidman Stars as Obsessed Detective in Riveting Revenge Thriller
Erin
Bell (Nicole Kidman) is a veteran LAPD
detective whose partner, Chris (Sebastian Stan), died when his cover
was blown during an undercover operation gone bad. Courtesy of
flashbacks, we learn that he was murdered by Silas (Toby Kebbell),
the leader of the gang of bank robbers the two had infiltrated.
At
the time, Erin and Chris were also lovers, and she was pregnant with
his baby. Fast forward 16 years and we find the single-mom doing a
miserable job of raising their rebellious daughter, Shelby (Jade
Pettyjohn), who is presently under the spell of a surly slacker (Beau
Knapp) already in his twenties.
The
problem is that ghost-like Erin ostensibly never recovered from the
loss of Chris. Haggard, pale and rudderless, she's ostensibly still
haunted by the fact that Silas and his henchmen vanished with the
millions stolen in the heist and were never apprehended.
A
crack in the long-dormant case arrives when some incriminating
evidence at a crime scene indicates that the gang has finally
resurfaced. The clues revitalize traumatized Erin who goes rogue on
an obsessed, one-woman quest to track down Silas.
Thus
unfolds Destroyer, a riveting, relentless, revenge-fueled thriller
directed by Karyn Kusama (Aeon Flux). Nicole Kidman deservedly landed
a Golden Globe nomination for her unforgettable performance as the
picture's hard-boiled heroine. She's virtually rendered
unrecognizable by a very demanding role as a self-abusing, shell of a
human-turned-wanton vigilante.
Besides
Kidman brilliantly playing against type, this nihilistic neo noir
features a capable cast deftly executing a convoluted, cat-and-mouse
screenplay in convincing fashion. A must-see tale of female
empowerment representing the best work yet by director Kusama.
Excellent
(4 stars)
Rated R
for violence, sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity
Running
time: 123 minutes
Production
Companies: 30 West / Automatik Entertainment
Studio:
Annapurna Pictures
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