Citizen X

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Audience Member It's 1982 Soviet Russia and a vicious serial killer has been leaving a trail of dead bodies HBO Pictures presents the story of one of the most notorious murderers Andrei Chilatilo He had a record of doing his crimes for 8 years claiming over 52 victims Lt. Viktor Burikov is eager to put a stop to this crime spree and catch him But the bureaucracy of the Soviet Union stalls him at every turn even possibly implicating a communist party member Even the country itself doesn't want to admit these crimes exist for fear of the public backlash or the superiors being unable to keep stability The film is an investigation story for sure and this lieutenants determination to solve the case Even the term citizen X is someone who is isolated and fantasizes about killing to be noticed; it would describe this culprit very well It’s a shame Max Von Sydow doesn’t show up until the last half but Donald Sutherland and Stephen Rhea bounce wonderfully off each other during the investigation It ends on a victorious but sour note too Considering it took so long to bring this man to justice for his crimes you can certainly feel the wide range of emotions It’s a passable viewing Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/25 Full Review Michael D This is over of the finest police procedural movies I’ve ever seen. It lays out - with great precision - aspects of a horrifying chapter in the history of the Soviet Union. All the performances are top-notch, and the relationship between the lead detective on the case Viktor Bukarov, played by Stephen Rea and his superior, Mikhail Fetisov, played by Donald Sutherland, is masterful and deeply moving. The last 45 minutes of the film are riveting and fascinating as they close in on the killer and extract his confession. I recommend this movie to anyone who’s interested in true crime and regard it as one of the finest true crime films ever made. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review Gabriel S Citizen X is more of a dissertation than a narrative, to the critical eye, a complex interpretation of Soviet inertia with a strong character development linked to the story arc. Is it a fun movie? No. Citizen X is slow and inactive, a series of depressing frustrations that, for the 2024 audience, bores. However, perhaps this is its strength. In a Soviet Union taken over by guesswork, by authoritarianism, Citizen X subtly and clearly portrays the Communist decadence of the 1980s. The plot follows the newly assigned Coroner Viktor Bukarov, depressed by the lack of resources and unwillingness of his department, especially when he finds a pattern in numerous murders that suggest the presence of a serial killer on the loose. However, in the illusion of the Perfect State, admitting the presence of a serial killer on the communist streets is the same as admitting that the regime has failed. The content of the synopsis reveals the essay character of the film. The story focuses on showing the clash between the country's High Executive Power, concerned about the image of the Soviet Union in the face of events, and Bukarov, who only wants to solve the case to avoid more deaths. The development of the character Bukarov is sensational. The subtlety in his beginning, with simple clothes and just pure determination, and, as time goes by, with better and better dress clothes and improved cleverness works to show us how much Bukarov is growing with the passing years. Another subtle and effective mark is the break-ins of the doors during the investigations: Bukarov does not even participate at the beginning and, in the end, he breaks down the door himself. An example of a well-written character arc. However, the fun factor is absent. As far as the police procedural genre goes, Citizen X is weak, it lacks scenes that justify the genre. Throughout the film, the political factor obscures the investigative factor, Bukarov basically stumbles into body after body with little proactivity perhaps justifiable by the period in which the story takes place. Those who want a serious investigation film will realize that Citizen X is more of a historical and psychological drama than a crime film, a film based on the real case of the Rostov Ripper. Citizen X works well as a drama and fails as a police procedural, a powerful period film with good character development and a solid story, but a little still for those who just want to have fun and avoid getting emotional. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/26/24 Full Review Audience Member This film show how communism is bad in every way Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/21/24 Full Review Ally Moore J Sure do like movies where the title is mentioned inside, those are some of the best ones ever! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/19/23 Full Review Farah R Solid performances elevate this biopic despite its humble budget. The actors play their roles with credibility and sincerity, making their characters' actions and emotions feel realistic and resonant. The fact-based story is aptly told with all the disturbing details while maintaining the utmost sensitivity. It's hard to believe Citizen X is a VOD production because it's made with more effort and attention than some theatrical releases. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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