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A depraved, sadistic serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo (Jeffrey DeMunn) killed at least 52 people over twelve years, mostly murdering children and people with mental disabilities. Chikatilo encountered his victims at Soviet train stations before luring them into the woods, where he engaged in sexual assault and mutilation. Citizen X picks up in the 1980s, when evidence first emerged of Chikatilo's crimes as bodies were discovered in a wooded area. After overseeing the initial autopsies and beginning work on the case, forensic specialist Viktor Burakov (Stephen Rea) receives a promotion to detective, while a committee of Russian bureaucrats hinder his investigative efforts at every turn. However, through the years, Burakov is aided by his commanding officer, Col. Mikhail Fetisov (Donald Sutherland). The men bond through their shared desire to find and prosecute the killer in the face of obnoxious, stubborn political roadblocks.
What separates Citizen X from more run-of-the-mill murder mysteries is the true-life setting and the unique circumstances surrounding the case. The Soviet Union's strict state bureaucracy frequently impedes the investigation, denying valuable resources and shooting down investigative strategies (including publicity) because they cannot openly admit that such a depraved man actually exists. Indeed, official government policy states that serial killers are a product of Western decadence and cannot exist in the USSR. Furthermore, the screenplay is a masterclass of subtle yet effective world-building, as viewers can draw conclusions about what life was like in the Soviet Union through character actions and dialogue. Instead of exposition, the naturalistic character interactions paint a vivid picture, from discussions about waiting for a bigger apartment (remember, this was a communist country) to politicians refusing to seek help from American investigators for fear of appearing weak. Additionally, local politicians used the case as an opportunity to prosecute homosexuals while staunchly protecting loyal members of the communist party, which allowed Chikatilo to evade arrest and continue killing for years. Gerolmo even conveys the passage of time through a changing series of wall photographs depicting Russia's premiers over the years. The writing is nuanced and layered, making Citizen X an absorbing watch.
With filming taking place in Hungary, Citizen X carries an astonishing sense of authenticity; this truly feels like the USSR during the 1980s, and everything feels intensely real. Gerolmo stages the murders with commendable restraint, relying on the power of suggestion instead of outright gore. Burakov's gruesome, detailed descriptions of his autopsy findings at the beginning of the film outline the horrors that each victim sustained at Chikatilo's hands, making the sequence more powerful and haunting than a graphic murder scene could be. The only downside to Citizen X is the lack of visual panache. It looks and feels like a television movie, with pedestrian cinematography and basic direction, which results in dull pacing from time to time. The film's matter-of-factness is a considerable asset more often than not since it does not feel like an overproduced, mainstream Hollywood production, but Citizen X still falls short of its full potential.
Gerolmo finds immense power in simple actions and dialogue, from Burakov mentally breaking down over the case to family members reacting to news of their deceased loved ones. One of the film's most potent scenes depicts psychiatrist Dr. Alexandr Bukhanovsky (Max von Sydow) reading out his detailed profile of the killer to Chikatilo, which compels the stubborn, closely-guarded murderer to break down and confess to his crimes. The performances are superb, with Citizen X featuring a mix of recognisable actors and little-known performers. Jeffrey DeMunn earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his harrowing portrayal of Chikatilo, a daring role the actor fully commits to. As Burakov, Stephen Rea's performance is subtle yet profound. The Irish actor convincingly plays a Russian native while conveying a cornucopia of emotions, including frustration and mental fatigue. Donald Sutherland likewise impresses as a more level-headed Soviet bureaucrat, masking his native American accent with ostensible ease. Sutherland deservedly won a Primetime Emmy for his performance, denoting the movie's sole Emmy win. Max von Sydow only appears in the story's third act, yet the late actor makes a fantastic impression as the methodical psychiatrist who plays a vital role in the investigation. Also of note is Joss Ackland, who is petrifying as the callous party leader, personifying the Soviet Union's villainous nature.
Gripping, edifying and challenging to forget, Citizen X is a genre standout because the serial killer himself is a secondary story focus. First and foremost, the movie is all about the extensive investigation and the political climate in the USSR, with the state's mistakes, beliefs and lack of ethics appearing almost as horrifying as the murders themselves. The film closes with customary title cards that reveal the extent of Chikatilo's crimes and his ultimate fate before the final scene coldly portrays his execution, with Gerolmo maintaining his unglamorous, bitter, realistic approach to storytelling through to the end. Citizen X is not an easy watch, nor is it particularly entertaining, but it preserves an important story with excellent actors and a staggering sense of authenticity, making this a recommended watch for fans of films like Memories of Murder.
7.9/10
