Destroyer - One Of The Best Films Of 2019

Certificate – 15

Directed By – Karyn Kusama

Starring – Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Scoot McNairy, Jade Pettyjohn, Bradley Whitford

Running Time – 121 Minutes (2 Hours 1 Minute)

★★★★★

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It may only be January, but I can safely say I’ve seen one of the best films of 2019 in Karyn Kusama’s new crime thriller Destroyer.

After getting a receipt of an ink-marked bill in the mail propels veteran LAPD detective Erin Bell (Kidman) on a perilous journey the murderer and gang leader Silas (Kebbell) and perhaps to finally make peace with her tortured past.

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From the beginning, I utterly loved this film. From Kusama’s directing, the dark and gritty story and seeing Kidman looking raw and unrecognisable.

I don’t think if it wasn’t for both of these women it would’ve worked the same as they both grab your attention as two hours fly by as we follow this story unveil as it twists and turns with a surprising and superb ending.

She also uses the city of LA wonderfully and gives it a modern noir feel with the use of familiar settings from the freeway, uses of greys and browns show the grimness, to the houses in the hills, bright yellows and clear blues highlight the wealth.

Destroyer also marks a great back-to-back for female directors bossing thrillers as this would make a fantastic double bill with Lynne Ramsey’s You Were Never Really Here.

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Away from the direction, Kidman gives the best performance I’ve ever seen. She transfers herself as this broken woman trying to regain some sort of control as finds drive and purpose in this new case.

It’s also good to see Kidman not holding back when it came to the violence as you do see Bell getting a kicking (which happens a lot) and dark nature of finding leads in her mission to find Silas.

The supporting cast do a fantastic job especially Stan and Maslany, who I didn’t know were in the film and in Maslany’s case was also unrecognisable. Meanwhile, Kebbell plays Silas really understated but know there’s a crazy evil person behind the eyes.

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The final thing I want to mention is the fantastic score from Theodore Shapiro and it’ll honestly be one of my favourite scores when the year ends.

Verdict

Kidman gives the best performance of her career, while Kusama directs one of the best modern thrillers. I can’t praise or love this movie enough.