This isn't a traditional hockey film. In a sense, it's not a hockey film at all. Hello Destroyer shoots for more: A story of alienation, and of youth rudely interrupted and lost in the machine.
Flin Flon-born actor Abrahamson nails it. He may not have many lines, but he also never has a false moment. He breaks your heart with a macho stoicism that ultimately cannot withstand a relentless assault of callous indifference.
[Hello Destroyer] is constructed sturdily enough to stand up to any forthcoming scrutiny, and maybe also built to last in a way that most feature debuts simply are not.
Writer/director Funk's first feature after a series of solid shorts -- including 2013's Destroyer, which contained the seeds of this film -- is a strong debut, if a little heavy-handed.
