Destroyer: it’s clear from the get-go that the protagonist of Karyn Kusama’s modern-day noir of sorts is a very damaged type, both within and without, and her journey is indeed grim. It is a fine plot, one that unravels slowly, mixing and matching two timelines with great clarity. At the center of it all is a fierce, magnetic performance by Nicole Kidman; shredding any hint of glamour, she plays the tough-as-nails cop that doesn’t let anything get in the way of her quest. Her creation is an unpleasant character, but quite interesting, and that combination beats “pleasant and bland” any day of the week. The rest of the cast is very game, in particular Tatiana Maslany and Bradley Whitford, but their screentime is generally short. Director of photography Julie Kirkwood gives the film a look that feels right for the genre; editor Plummy Tucker navigates well through the timelines.