Citizen X

I really can’t believe I only stumbled upon this HBO film now, twenty-six years after its release! Citizen X delves deeply into a sensitive topic that plagued the Soviet Union in the 1980s and 1990s: the crimes of the serial killer known as "The Rostov Ripper," whose real name was Andrei Chikatilo. Few quality films have been made about him, and since I only knew his name, I welcomed this film with open arms. Technically, I have no complaints; HBO always delivers solid work, and that’s evident in every frame of Citizen X. The acting is captivating; while Jeffrey DeMunn's role is somewhat sidelined by the stellar performances of Stephen Rea and Donald Sutherland, it’s still impressive. The second half of the film picks up pace, offering both tense moments and emotionally charged scenes. My only gripe with a perfect rating is that, at times, it felt too Americanized and less authentic, but that’s something that can’t be helped. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 8/10 (14/09/2021)

This chillingly gruesome recreation of the Rostov killer's rampage has succeeded. And yet the film concentrated mainly on facts and credibility and did not try to evoke a dark thriller atmosphere.... Or could it be that I was so impressed by this almost documentary-like coldness in the end? Stephen Rea and Jeffrey DeMunn are both excellent, Donald Sutherland and Max von Sydow are equally admirable, lots of scenes I'll never forget... For me, Citizen X is comparable to, say, The Boston Strangler or Zodiac. Five stars. (17/03/2012)

A film full of conflicts. On the one hand, its quite gripping, intellectually rich and brilliantly cast and acted, but also uneven and fragmented among potentially strong motifs that all deserve more attention. The film is carried by the premise itself, and the criticism of the Soviet state authorities also deserves praise, but it still leaves the aftertaste of the unexploited potential of the story about the worst mass murderer in Russian history, whose rage and personality the made-for-TV Citizen X fails to fully portray. 70% (01/11/2019)

I caught up with this classic starring Donald Sutherland about the notorious Soviet serial killer Chikatilo, who murdered 52 people, most of them children. For a TV movie, Citizen X is a nice surprise. We follow the multi-year hunt for Chikatilo, who managed to terrorize the children of the Soviet Union for eight years. There may not be explicit violence, but there’s a chilling atmosphere throughout the film and those who like serial killer movies shouldn't hesitate regardless of the year. A high quality and engaging biographical thriller that will continue to captivate even today. Story****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence*, Entertainment****, Music***, Visual****, Atmosphere****, Suspense****. 8/10. (18/09/2020)

The initial theatricality and static nature of the narrative gradually disappear, the actors stop overacting, bonds are formed between their characters, and the plot begins to step up smoothly and efficiently. And at the end of the film, you are holding your breath. It is just a pity that it’s a TV movie that cannot go too wild and, in an effort to protect the viewer’s sensibilities, omits the worst – cannibalistic – part of Chikatilo’s killing spree. A great role for Max von Sydow. (21/02/2015)