This movie punches above its weight. Kidman's character is broken, tortured by human frailty and a moral misstep in her past. The one difficulty I have is that this frailty extends to her physicality, making her appear "wasted," less robust, and less believably capable of achieving the redemption she desperately seeks. Solid performances all around in this better-than-expected slow churn thriller / drama, although the denouement managed to leave a few loose ends.

Nicole Kidman plays a cringey cop in this movie.

A complex, slow-paced (like real life), magisterial telling of a tragedy with only minor tones of triumph and redemption. Not spectacular, action-packed, good-feeling-from-revenge-killing, mainstream entertainment. Not for the weak of heart and mind.

To much dragging in some incidents and murky.

A good film where it shows the consequences of one bad action from undercover police officers can destroy their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Nicole Kidman shines in this bleak, but engaging story.

Best thing Kidman has ever done. She is unrecognizable. I have never seen her do anything remotely like this. I think that this movie should have won her an Oscar (not that i care much about Oscars. they are often given to films that i think are mainstream soulless over produced poop feasts). This movie is f***ing nuts. Action, anxiety inducing suspense, Kidman as a nihilistic lunatic who doesnt give a single ____ about anything. These people rating this movie just don't get it. They are wrong. I don't have much faith in humans these days so it doesn't surprise me that there are people that don't get this movie, But I am surprised at just how many.

Whatever is going on with Nicole Kidman's face is distracting. There's absolutely nothing of substance here.

Criminally underrated quasi-sequel to Training Day.

This is the worst movie I've ever seen in my entire life! The ratings are not a reflection of the quality of the movie! My rating is 20! Don't wait your time watching this piece of garbage 🗑️

Kidman is remarkably understated (even with that make-up) and I like how Kusama plays with memory in the flashback sequences.

This film effectively makes the most of a plot, which although sparse, is original enough to hold interest in the story that continues to unfold. In a lesser directors hands this film could have easily flailed at the end but I think the audience is successfully carried through, owing in part to Kidman's performance which is on point. This film definitely deserves more than the average 50% audience score given.

Terrible, hard to watch!

This was incredibly disappointing and poorly edited. No character background and way too much time spent in long shots of Nichole looking gaunt and depressed. I seriously cannot see how reviewers can rave about it.

Yeah, 'Destroyer' is not good. It is dark, gritty, morally questionable. I didn't care about any of the characters. The film is full of gaps in logic (it takes 17 years to resolve your issues?) The scenes jump around in chronology, which can be used effectively, but here they use it excessively in what feels like every other scene. If I had to say something good, the makeup department did a good job making Kidman look like a meth addict. I HOPE that was on purpose.

Probably my favorite flick from Kusama, a closed second to the Invitation. Only negative thing is Kidman just isn't believable as the character she plays

A strong yet understated performance from Kidman in a movie that's more about someone struggling with decisions made in the past than it is a crime/cop movie

Performances weighed down by poor CGI, excessive use of flashbacks, implausible action sequences that feel ridiculous, a story that becomes even more dull when the big reveal at the end proves to be not so big. It's a nasty, ugly ride down a road of human frailty and weakness. Nothing unique here, it's all been done before.

Nicole Kidman stars as vengeful LAPD detective Erin Bell in Karyn Kusama's 2018 neo-noir thriller. Kidman appears unrecognisable in the lead role; she becomes the character both visually and physically. Opposite Kidman features brilliant performances by Sebastian Stan, Jade Pettyjohn, Tatiana Maslany and Toby Kebbell. Sixteen years after an undercover case ended in tragedy, guilt-ridden Erin Bell must work her way through former gang members and her own history to get revenge on the people that destroyed her past. All the while trying to reconcile with her out of control daughter (Jade Pettyjohn). Kidman is a tour de force in the lead role. She completely embodies the disgruntled detective and gives a raw, sensational performance. Brit Toby Kebbell stars alongside Kidman as the sociopathic leader of the gang Erin and Chris (Sebastian Stan) infiltrate. Despite his brilliant performance, his Yorkshire accent can't help but leak through at times. The chemistry between Kidman and Stan is amazing - Stan's performance as undercover FBI agent Chris is both hard-headed and emotional. Kusama does a great job ensuring that everything in the film is shown in equal balance, allowing nothing to overpower the dominant themes of revenge and reconciliation. She uses both close-ups and realistic action to add tension and to keep the viewer interested. Bill Corso does an incredible job transforming these characters into looking like they've aged 16 years. Detective Bell's once healthy, brown locks become a messy, mousey frizz atop her head and her bright eyes become shadowed, sunken orbs. Despite being a stellarly shot film about vengeance, 'Destroyer' is a film that also deals with a reconciliation between a mother and her daughter. Jade Pettyjohn plays Erin's daughter Shelby who, without her mother, has gone on an increasingly worrying decline into recklessness. Their complex relationship explores both the intricacy of parenting and the effects of an absent parent. Kusama uses memory/flashbacks as a way to add depth to the film - in one particular flashback, a young Shelby is seen on her mother's back as they walk through a snowstorm. Shelby says she remembers her mother wearing a pair of old, worn sneakers; this links to the idea of parenting as Erin is protecting young Shelby from the snow and putting herself at risk. Kidman's lack of recognition for her role was one of the most notable things about the film's reception. Although nominated for a Golden Globe, she was overlooked by many other prestigious organisations and societies. Kusama emerging from 'Movie jail' probably didn't boost the film's popularity as it ended up grossing a mere $5.6 million despite its $9-12.4 million budget. The film's closing sequence is a mix between Erin sitting in her car resting, and an emotional montage that feels incredibly poetic - a complete contrast from the rest of the gruelling affair. Said montage abruptly ends when one of the children playing behind Erin's car lands a skateboard flip. Not only does the sound echo a gunshot, but the skateboard landing lets viewers know that Erin has finally died as a result of internal bleeding she sustained earlier in the film. If the idea of a bank-robbing syndicate excites you, then you should check out John Hillcoat's 2015 thriller 'Triple 9'. However, if the more sentimental side of 'Destroyer' appealed to you, then the 2018 vigilante thriller 'Peppermint' should be on your radar. 'Destroyer' is a layered, intense film that features sensational performances, breathtaking cinematography and incredible makeup and hairstyling. But despite its visual excellence, its confusing ending results in viewers feeling unsatisfied and confused. Karyn Kusama's first feature film since the 2015 horror 'The Invitation', is a visual triumph that gives Nicole Kidman a chance to once again show off her talent.

This is a really quite edgy, gritty and raw type thriller film, with Nicole Kidman giving a strong performance in the main lead, as a very determined officer, willing to do whatever it takes to ger her target. It has the feel of a somewhat underground film, not so much that its a b-movie in tone but more in terms of the plot details, the dark tone of it I suppose. Its not entirely a film with lots of glitz and glamour, of course. I felt Kidman was very convincing in this film and it felt quite engrosing, although the somewhat shaky camerawork at times did put me off a little. Its relatively absorbing and intriguing, plot wise, with the viewer slowly learning more about Erin Bells background as the film continues. The incidental music played, mostly edgy stringed instrument type music (like that used in Hitchcock films), is relatively good at adding to the general sense of uncertainty and the doubt of who will be the first to blink, if you know what I mean, although it is perhaps a little loud now and again. In that sense, its quite intriguing, even 'mean and moody'. I suppose Kidmans character is someone that many parents and police officers may/can relate to, to one extent or another. Its a relatively fast paced (if in short bursts) and frantic watch, raw and well characterised film which I'd recommend.

Repulsive looking character in a socially just movie is decent and believable because she is a very flawed character that in no way is overpowering. The structure is very irregular and that does hurt it given that the only constant is the strung-out and hideous looking lead character. Manages to intrigue enough through the ending which, while not exactly disappointing, is too drawn out and melodramatic. Previews definitely oversold it.