Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
When Erin Bell was a young cop, she was given an undercover assignment that ended badly and destroyed her life. Years later, she must face her demons in order to make peace with her past.
Destroyer rests almost entirely on Nicole Kidman's extraordinarily committed, physically transformed performance as the ravaged Erin Bell — a genuine career highlight that elevates fairly standard neo-noir crime material. The non-linear structure adds some intrigue but the underlying plot is well-worn undercover-gone-wrong territory. Cinematography is competent but unremarkable, leaning on desaturated LA visuals that feel familiar. Novelty is limited; the downward-spiral detective redemption arc has been done many times. The ending attempts poignancy through its time-reveal twist but lands with mixed effectiveness.