Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
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 communists 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.
Citizen X is a gripping HBO true-crime drama that distinguishes itself through its procedural focus on Soviet bureaucratic obstruction rather than the killer himself. The plot is tightly constructed, balancing the investigation's frustrations with genuine tension, earning a well-above-average mark. The acting is exceptional — Stephen Rea delivers a quietly compelling performance and Donald Sutherland is superb as the pragmatic superior, making this one of the finest TV-movie acting ensembles of the era. Cinematography is competent and atmospheric but unremarkable for the genre. The novelty lies in its Soviet-system critique angle rather than killer glorification, which is distinctive but not wholly singular — it occupies familiar true-crime territory elevated by its political context. The ending is satisfying and appropriately restrained, resolving the case without sensationalism, though it doesn't linger or surprise.