Citizen X (1995)
| Title | Citizen X |
| Year | 1995 |
| Country | Hungary, USA |
| Genre | Thriller (Movies) |
| Collection | Serial Killers |
| Run Time | 1h 45 min |
| Director |
Citizen X (1995) is an American television film based on the true story of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The film follows detectives in the 1980s as they work to capture an unknown serial killer responsible for the murder of women and children. Despite bureaucratic obstacles, forensic specialist Viktor Burakov leads an eight-year hunt for the perpetrator after a body is discovered on a collective farm in 1982. As they continue their search, seven more bodies are found in nearby woods, all showing signs of mutilation and murder. In total, 53 lives were taken, with 52 victims under the age of 35.
Burakov’s rise to detective coincides with the appearance of Col. Mikhail Fetisov, his commanding officer, who covertly aids him in investigating the heinous crimes of serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. Later on, psychiatrist Alexandr Bukhanovsky joins their efforts, bringing his expertise in ‘abnormal psychology’ to the table. In addition to its thrilling crime elements, the film also sheds light on the Soviet propaganda and bureaucracy that hindered law enforcement from catching Chikatilo for almost a decade. The public was kept in the dark about his atrocities for years, as local politicians feared it would damage the USSR’s image. This was due to a fear that serial killers were associated with Western moral degradation and decadence.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Stephen ReaLt. Viktor Burakov  Donald SutherlandCol. Mikhail Fetisov  Jeffrey DeMunnAndrei Chikatilo  Max von SydowDr. Alexandr Bukhanovsky  Joss AcklandBondarchuk  John WoodGorbunov  Imelda StauntonMrs. Burakov |
Citizen X (1995) is an American television film based on the true story of Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. The film follows detectives in the 1980s as they work to capture an unknown serial killer responsible for the murder of women and children. Despite bureaucratic obstacles, forensic specialist Viktor Burakov leads an eight-year hunt for the perpetrator after a body is discovered on a collective farm in 1982. As they continue their search, seven more bodies are found in nearby woods, all showing signs of mutilation and murder. In total, 53 lives were taken, with 52 victims under the age of 35.
Burakov’s rise to detective coincides with the appearance of Col. Mikhail Fetisov, his commanding officer, who covertly aids him in investigating the heinous crimes of serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. Later on, psychiatrist Alexandr Bukhanovsky joins their efforts, bringing his expertise in ‘abnormal psychology’ to the table. In addition to its thrilling crime elements, the film also sheds light on the Soviet propaganda and bureaucracy that hindered law enforcement from catching Chikatilo for almost a decade. The public was kept in the dark about his atrocities for years, as local politicians feared it would damage the USSR’s image. This was due to a fear that serial killers were associated with Western moral degradation and decadence.
