DESTROYER. A Worn-Out Nicole Kidman in a Pulp Sauce

In the thriller Destroyer, echoes of revenge cinema resonate throughout. The protagonist is a walking wreck, and the action is interwoven with flashbacks that provide context to the present-day scenes. The entire film is steeped in a dense neo-noir atmosphere, occasionally teetering on the edge of kitsch and exaggeration. The dialogue is sharp, the violence bloody and unflinching, and the story and its characters radiate darkness. This should feel comfortably familiar to fans of True Detective, though Destroyer lacks the same level of self-awareness. Unlike the aforementioned work, Destroyer sometimes evokes wry smiles with over-the-top scenes or dialogue that likely worked better on paper. Still, a few missteps don’t detract from the fact that this is a solid piece of crime storytelling with an outstanding lead performance.

Nicole Kidman is mesmerizing from the very first scenes, though it’s initially hard to look past the somewhat caricatured makeup. Her character is an alcoholic chewed up and spit out by life, carrying a horrific burden from her past—something that, naturally, should be apparent. However, it seems the makeup artists (and likely the director) wanted this to be visible from the first second, overdoing it in the process. Kidman’s performance, however, is stunningly authentic, perfectly capturing the merciless nature of her character’s inner demons—there was no need to emphasize it so heavily through her appearance. After a while, though, we stop noticing it and focus on the story, which holds several surprises and intensely gripping moments.

Both timelines engage from the start, aided by a judicious pacing of information that leaves the viewer with questions and speculations. Watching the flashbacks is tinged with sadness (as we have a general idea of the outcome) and anticipation of the worst, while the present-day narrative lets us connect the dots and fill in the gaps ourselves. This technique, often used in crime literature and films of a similar vein, allows us to piece things together and feel closer to the protagonist.

Even without this, it’s easy to sympathize with the protagonist. She’s tough to deal with, morally ambiguous, yet charismatic and competent. Her flaws and imperfections make her intriguing, and her resilience makes us root for her until the end. Every insult, blow, or kick she receives only increases our respect for her, especially since none of it stops her from pressing forward. Destroyer is undeniably Nicole Kidman’s showcase, though her co-stars, Sebastian Stan and Toby Kebbell, also deliver memorable performances. Perhaps more time could have been devoted to developing the relationship between Stan’s and Kidman’s characters, but even without that, we can believe in the strength and significance of their connection. The conflict between the protagonist and her daughter is less successful, largely due to the daughter’s exaggeratedly over-the-top boyfriend. A more subtle approach would have helped, though the evident communication issues and the final scene in this subplot are strikingly authentic and deeply moving.

Unfortunately, the film’s final moments are handled less deftly—this is where the director really should have eased off the accelerator. The ending might provoke some major eye rolls and teeth-gnashing, but it doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the movie. Destroyer is a thriller with a strong story, beautifully crafted cinematography, and an excellent soundtrack that perfectly complements the gritty atmosphere beloved by fans of this genre. It’s undoubtedly a must-watch for them, as well as for devoted admirers of Nicole Kidman’s talent.