Citizen X (1995)

During the 1980s, Soviet authorities hunt for a serial killer who picks his victims in railway stations and commuter trains and lures them into the woods.

Director:

Chris Gerolmo

Writers:

Robert Cullen (book), Chris Gerolmo (teleplay)

Stars:

Stephen Rea, Donald Sutherland, Max von Sydow

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Rea	...	Lt. Viktor Burakov
Donald Sutherland	...	Col. Mikhail Fetisov
Max von Sydow	...	Dr. Alexandr Bukhanovsky
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Andrei Chikatilo
Joss Ackland	...	Bondarchuk
John Wood	...	Gorbunov
Radu Amzulescu	...	Federenko
Imelda Staunton	...	Mrs. Burakov
András Bálint	...	Ignatiev
Géza Balkay	...	Procurator
László Váradi Balogh	...	Peasant
Zsolt Biro	...	Older Gay Man
Ion Caramitru	...	Tatevsky
Balázs Csapo	...	Gayy Partner
Imre Csuja	...	Front Detective

Storyline

Based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who, over many years, claimed over 50 victims, 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.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | bureaucracy | reference to andrei romanovich chikatilo | communism | shallow grave | 

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Taglines:

You don't want to know what he does... You just want to know when he's caught.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong, graphic violence and related language

Details

Country:

USA Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Citizen X

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Asylum Films, Citadel Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stephen Rea also starred in V for Vendetta where he again played a detective on a manhunt working within an authoritarian bureaucratic regime.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film, Burakov, a forensic scientist, is peering through a microscope. The mirror for reflecting light is under his chest, blocking the light. The microscope is always used with the mirror away from the body, so light reflected from the mirror can illuminate the specimen from underneath.

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Quotes

Bondarchuk: There is no serial killer in the Soviet state.

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Alternate Versions

The 1995 UK video release was cut by 37 secs by the BBFC to reduce stabbings during the murder scenes.

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Connections

Referenced in The Collector (2002)

User Reviews

A serious docudrama from HBO

"Citizen X" tells the story of "The Butcher of Rostov", nickname for a heinous and perverse Russian serial killer who claimed 52 lives from 1978-92. The film focuses on the novice detective (Rea) who doggedly pursued the killer against all odds in the face of an uncooperative bureaucracy in self-serving and convenient denial. An HBO product for t.v., the film offers a solid cast, good performances, spares the audience much of the grisly details, but plays out like a docudrama sans the stylistics of similar Hollywood fare. An even and straight-forward dramatization of a serious and comparatively little known story more interesting than "Jack the Ripper". (B)