Citizen X (1995)

June 24, 2024 4:36 PM

Based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who, over many years, claimed victim to over 50 people. His victims were mostly under the age of 17. In what was then a communist state, the police investigations were hampered by bureaucracy, incompetence and those in power. The story is told from the viewpoint of the detective in charge of the case.

Currently on Max, Prime and Apple. Directed by Chris Gerelmo. Written by Chris Gerelmo and Robert Cullen.

posted by bunderful (5 comments total)

“This film is the best sort of serial killer biopic because it treats the actual individual as secondary. People have come to question the ethics behind true crime as entertainment. It’s a valid conversation. A film like Citizen X works to make the killing and the gruesome details of serial murder the least entertaining element of its story and plot. What’s meant to entertain is the tension within the environment of the Soviet Union that allowed Chikatilo to go on killing so long— in some ways, the state’s mistakes are as horrifying as the murders…”
posted by bunderful at 6:27 PM on June 24, 2024 [1 favorite]

This was really very good. It was so lacking in voyeurism and sensationalism that I didn’t realize until I looked it up that I was watching true crime. It’s a story about hard work despite many barriers by people who believe in the importance of their task.

Sutherland is wonderful. So is Rea.
posted by bunderful at 7:27 PM on June 24, 2024 [1 favorite]

I've never heard of this before, but it has a fantastic cast. Will definitely check out.
posted by Pedantzilla at 11:34 PM on June 24, 2024 [1 favorite]

I really liked this when I saw it a few years back. IIRC, I think there was some implication in the film that the lack of blood type info from the collected semen samples was possibly due to someone covering for him or something, but I think it wasn't until later than this that the idea that some people were "non-secretors" whose blood type could be determined from other bodily fluids?
posted by rmd1023 at 6:57 AM on June 25, 2024 [2 favorites]

The film mentions it at the very end, that a Russian scientist claimed to have discovered a rare phenomenon in which a man had semen of a type that did not match his blood, and that she was ridiculed by her peers. Note #9 in the Wikipedia article on Chikatilo repeats this information with a bit more detail and source links.
posted by bunderful at 10:14 AM on June 25, 2024 [1 favorite]