Citizen X (1995)

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Avg Rating: 4.5 / 5. Voted: 151

No one cared thus far. Do you?

AKA: NA
Directed by: Chris Gerolmo
Starring: Jeffrey DeMunn, Stephen Rea, Donald Sutherland, Max von Sydow
Country: USA
Language: English (Optional Eng Subs)
Runtime: 01:43:01
Genres: Serial Killers, Detective/Mystery, Rape/Sexual Violence against Women, Old-Young, Based on a True Story

Plot – Spoilers:
Citizen X is based on the serial killer, The Butcher of Rostov/Red Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo, who roamed Russia, Ukraine and surrounding regions, killing over 50 women and children in a span of 12 years. The movie follows the investigative efforts over a decade that eventually led to his capture.

This TV film is one of those not-so-renowned serial killer movies that is actually a gem. The acting’s pretty good and the tension around the investigation always palpable.

Favorite scenes:
Every time Chikatilo is bullied, insulted or laughed at, he picks up his hunting bag and heads out. This is how he deals with unpleasant moments. Most of the world might have a smoke, a drink or head out to a club to cope, but Chikatilo kills. And when he kills, he sneaks up from behind, knocking them out and stabbing them before indulging himself sexually, which shows his timidity where he feels control over them only when they’re close to death.

The scene at the station with the harried-looking cop who has been on duty for 36 hours. There is something sincere about him – whether it’s his dedication or the pain he feels on discovering his cousin’s 8-year-old daughter’s body.

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jim
jim
January 12, 2024 5:45 am

Another excellent movie about Chikitilo is named Evilenko. Starring the great Malcolm McDowell. Fucking awesome flick.

Russ
Russ
January 2, 2024 12:25 pm

A story well told with some fine acting and as usual Donald Sutherland is a master of his craft. An interesting analysis of the Soviet Police Force be it entirely true or not.

Heather
Heather
August 23, 2023 7:48 pm

The common tropes in the story made me think a lot about story telling. But the payoff moments made it worth the watch and, oddly, a kind of feel-good movie. I definitely need to revisit the Chikatilo case and pay more attention to the investigators.

Kenny Monoxide
Kenny Monoxide
June 14, 2023 3:24 am

Jeffrey DeMunn is one of those actors. I’ve seen him in dozens of films and he’s alway a subtle, background type of charactor. But not in this one. He takes center-stage as the Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo and man does he fill the shoes. Even dwarfing Donald Sutherland’s performance.
Just take a look at his IMDb profile and check out the movies he’s been in…. amazing.

Tyrone
Tyrone
April 28, 2023 4:56 pm

Shoutout my nigga Chikatilo he a real nigga man. Nigga and ne spent time in prison man, he was sucking everyone’s dick man

Tyrone
Tyrone
April 28, 2023 11:36 am

Only killed women, massive respect

Dragon9inch
Dragon9inch
March 24, 2023 4:15 pm

I think it was effup when the beginning of the movie the killer is staping the child through chest heart how effup is that its a child ..great movie effup about it ..it was a true story ..that’s effup .

Kenny Monoxide
Kenny Monoxide
March 4, 2023 5:15 am

This is such a good movie! I remember seeing it some time ago but couldn’t remember the name. I enjoyed it then and even more so now. I saw deeper into the movie this time. Like the growth of the characters, and the Lenin poster aging along with the newer model of the same car as time passed. And Jeffrey DeMunn… man, he played the Hell out of that role. This is a 10/10 for me.

charley m
charley m
February 26, 2023 3:52 pm

There is a newer movie of this story called Child 44, having watched both, they are equally good.

Father Death
Father Death
October 15, 2022 2:05 pm

I love this website, thank you.

Dave Kirby
Dave Kirby
August 13, 2022 12:11 am

wow a great movie I don’t why its on this site its to good for it …a great movie to watch …..I was going to clean my office but fuck that I watch this instead I am glad that I did ….

Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Hubbard
February 12, 2022 2:03 am

Best ending.

kvothe
kvothe
January 18, 2022 9:21 pm

fantastic movie!

joe126
joe126
January 17, 2022 3:12 am

One of my fave serial killer movies.

fred fat
fred fat
January 14, 2022 10:28 pm

russian accents are too laughable – couldnt take the film seriously

444yman
444yman
January 12, 2022 5:06 pm

10 out of fucking 10

movienthusiast11
movienthusiast11
January 11, 2022 2:37 pm

Damn 52 bodies, couldnt get any more disturbing and knowing that this actually happened irl. Thx for this, ejoyed it

Cyanide_Lollipop
Cyanide_Lollipop
January 11, 2022 10:40 am

What a great movie. Interesting story, good acting (pleasantly surprised to find Donald Sutherland here!) Well worth the watch. It’s effed up for the fact that it’s based on a true story; 35 kids were brutally murdered by a sick fuck in Russia. Doesn’t get more effed up than that.

Matisse Famke
Matisse Famke
March 28, 2021 8:14 am

Whomever transliterated the subtitles of this pièce de résistance, should be contritely attritional.

Alice
Alice
March 15, 2021 10:38 am

A gripping movie, the dialogues are elegantly-written, the acting is convincing I was hooked to the movie from start to finish…I love the opening theme as well… It’s scary to know that it’s based on an actual crime…This film also shows that good, honest people usually work in the nest of egoistic snakes, their efforts could’ve ended the consequent murders if the samples were not tampered with

Ellroy
Ellroy
December 28, 2020 11:19 am

Globalement d’accord avec les commentaires précédents. C’est un téléfilm de qualité, l’écrasement politique et bureaucratique est assez développé, mais le travail sur la psychopathologie du tueur est assez creuse, de même pour l’intervention assez maigre du psychiatre de l’époque. Rendre l’incapacité idéologique à admettre de tels crimes en union soviétique c’est bien vu, mais le travail de fond sur l’énigme du tueur en est sa plus grande faiblesse.

OJ
OJ
December 23, 2020 9:50 am

Good old fashioned movie, excellent choice of actors but a sad real story of a serial killer.

pain
pain
December 23, 2020 3:52 am

Definitely top 10 best movies of all time In my perspective. 10/10

Mike Ehrmantraut
Mike Ehrmantraut
December 16, 2020 6:18 am

This was a very good movie. Well written, casted and acted. Virtually flawless. Granted, there was no guys, gore, or human excrement, it had all the makings of the great psychological thriller. Bravo, EUM… you’ve done it again!

How is it you guys find all these wonderful movies I’ve never heard of?

Guess I’ve been looking in all the wrong places.

Erfan
Erfan
October 30, 2020 1:30 am

Very good and great move.
And best artists

pa04is
pa04is
July 28, 2020 7:45 am

I agree with Jessica. No gore. Well acted and well written.

Jessica
Jessica
January 12, 2020 5:12 pm

Good movie i enjoyed it. x