TIFF 2018 Destroyer Review

Trailer: Kusama’s Clunky Kidman Starrer DESTROYER Gets Teased

Destroyer, directed by Karyn Kusama (The Invitation, Aeon Flux), joins a long line of LA based neo-noirs. This one sees Nicole Kidman in a transformative performance as hard boiled police detective Erin Bell who spends past and present obsessively infiltrating the David Cooperfield-looking cult leader Silas (Toby Kebbell) and his worshiping sycophants. The film received mixed to negative reviews playing the fall festival circuit, yet still coveted a spot in TIFF’s platform section. The True Detective-esque procedural checks off most cop cliches, but the wig work rates as top notch!

The gritty drama slaps on the cuffs just in time for awards season opening this winter. Written by co-scribes and regular Kusama collaborators Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, the film also has Internet adored Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Infinity War), Scoot McNairy (TV’s Halt and Catch Fire), Canada’s own Tatiana Maslany (Stronger, TV’s Orphan Black), ubiquitous character actor Toby Huss (The Front Runner, Halloween) and last, but certainly not least, Bradley Whitford (The Post, Get Out) who not only is a scene stealer but just might be the only great part of the film.

 

 

Destroyer will open at the end of 2018.



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