Destroyer

Movie Name: Destroyer
Year of Release: 2018
Director: Karyn Kusama
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Scoot McNairy, Bradley Whitford, Toby Huss, James Jordan, Beau Knapp, Jade Pettyjohn, Shamier Anderson, Zach Villa, Colby French
Genre: Drama, Crime
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3
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Synopsis and Review

The creative team of director Karyn Kusama, and writers Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, reunited for "Destroyer", following the well received "The Invitation" which premiered in 2015. The film follows the story of Erin Bell, a police detective whom we first encounter analyzing a crime scene of an apparent John Doe, in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. The narrative then cycles back into the past, and presents us Erin and her FBI partner, Chris, infiltrating undercover a gang who deals in all sorts of criminal activities, including bank robberies. As it turns out, Erin and Chris fall in love, and Erin becomes pregnant as a result. Currently a very worn out Erin receives a package at the police station with a marked/stained dollar bill, which she assumes to have been sent by Silas, the head of the group she and Chris had gone undercover for 16 years before. In parallel with this rehash of the past that just bursts out of nowhere, Erin is also dealing with her teenage daughter, who refuses to engage much with her, preferring to listen to her adoptive father, Ethan. Her daughter, Shelby is dating a young man who controls her every movement, something that enrages Erin, but that she can't do much about, as their relationship is deeply fractured. As the unresolved issues of the past pop up once more, Erin has to deal with the threads and people she thought she had lost behind. 

"Destroyer" is one of those films that from a quick glance of its description, seems to have all the ingredients perfect for crafting a narrative about the grittiness of its central character, including her fall from grace and her seeking for atonement. It also, and from a slightly orchestrated point of view, seems to be a project tailored for an actress who wants to showcase "range" and who wants to demonstrate just how raw she can go to illustrate a completely torn and emotionally destroyed character. In essence, an attempt at replicating what Patty Jenkins did with "Monster", which shattered everyone's impressions of Charlize Theron as an actress, and demonstrated what kind of a performer she actually is. While "Monster" isn't a particularly successful film, it does have a towering performance that sips through the entire film, adding a sense of authenticity and urgency to each and every one of its frames, something that "Destroyer" sadly can't replicate. That's where the film has its biggest challenge, with its attempt at being gritty and realistic, it can't help but feel as an amateurish perspective on the topics that is trying to illustrate. The film lacks conviction, and in order to pack a true punch there has to be believability in what's being illustrated, something that this film never truly reaches. Most of the characters are barely contextualized or illustrated, rather functioning as background sketches for Erin, who by the way, also gets very little in terms of dimension. We barely get an inkling of who she is, aside from her penchant for not bathing, not sleeping, and being haunted by her memories. The cast tries their best to bring these characters and situations to life, but the film just fails to deliver them the appropriate backdrop for their talents. Nicole Kidman who is typically fearless in her roles, feels terribly miscast here, creating a cerebral interpretation of what a destroyed individual looks like, but where very little emotion of any kind comes across. Tatiana Maslany ends up being the most interesting performer, even if her screen time is very limited. The production team is uninspired, save for Theodore Shapiro's musical score, which is a highlight. It's a forgettable endeavor for everyone involved.