okay and let start off by say this film be not an exact rendition of the crime and legal pursuit of andrei chikatilo . while it may have be official policy in the politburo that the ussr have no serial killer and in actuality the legal system have handle others and and killer x ( a he be actually call ) be already be seek when fetisov bring burakov onto the case . in fact and as soon a it be realize they have multiple murder on their hand and the authority assign a task force of dozen of officer to track down and end the kill spree of a man that do not fit into what be perceive a normal serial killer parameter . it good the director and writer consistently remind the viewer that the story be only base upon actual event and for a docudrama this ain not . spoiler followthat say and this be a damn good example of a fast paced hollywood style thriller that still get across the basic of what happen . it be easy to follow and have just enough truth behind it version of event to make for compel view . yes and chikatilo rap and murder both child and adult and both male and female . yes and shoddy lab work set him free to continue kill for year . yes and innocent men be accuse of the murder and confess to their crime at police urge . yes and the gay community be harass while the crime be be commit ( albeit with burakov commit assistance ) . and yes and chikatilo be bring to confession not by the haranguing of the special prosecutor and gorbunov and but by the gentle understanding of a psychiatrist name bukhanovsky ( though gorbunov be really nowhere near the egotistical martinet portray in this film ) . quibble about truth and veracity aside and all of these event be dramatize in a manner that consistently tighten the tension and fear . it doesn not hurt that director and co writer chris gerolmo have a pitch perfect cast . stephen rea grow emotional involvement in the killing and develop expertise in detect clue and donald sutherland snarky manipulation of the soviet party hack and subtle spine that become evident when it be need and jeffrey demunn seethe undercurrent of rage hide by a fear fill demeanor and max von sydow boyish excitement at be part of a criminal investigation all enhance the sharp dialog and crisp editing in way that can not be underestimate . take for what it be and citizen x be almost pitch perfect ( the almost due to one moment of self congratulation at the end that just do not fit ) . highly recommend a fiction well told and not fact be present . but consider the junky serial killer movie that hollywood usually spit out and that good enough for me .