HBO’s Citizen X Deserves a Bigger Audience

by

Quick Links

  • Russia Runs Red with Blood
  • The Hunt for the Red Ripper
  • A Legacy of Terror and Nepotism

As a film enthusiast with a keen interest in true crime narratives, I find myself constantly drawn to stories that delve into the darkest recesses of human nature and unravel the complex web of events surrounding these heinous acts. The HBO movie “Citizen X” is one such tale that left an indelible mark on me.

The captivating interest people have towards true crime films and series is widely recognized. In the U.S., the media often shares shocking news about the criminal activities of real-life predators residing among us. Additionally, authorities frequently issue warnings regarding their potential threats to public safety. Conversely, if you were living in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, particularly in Rostov, you might have been oblivious to a serial killer who was preying on children and young women. Such a situation may seem unfathomable and absurd, but it is unfortunately true.

1995 saw the broadcast of a movie titled “Citizen X,” by HBO. This film portrayed the criminal activities and manhunt for the “Rostov Ripper,” Andrei Chikatilo, played by Jeffrey DeMunn. The movie not only followed the relentless pursuit of a serial killer who was responsible for 52 deaths over a span of twelve years but also vividly showcased the incompetence of the Soviet administration in acknowledging Chikatilo to the general public due to their fear of admitting that such killers existed within the Soviet Union. The movie, “Citizen X,” is a gripping account of bureaucratic shortcomings, the perseverance of an overstretched police force, and a chilling glimpse into one of the most depraved serial killers in history.

Russia Runs Red with Blood

Between 1978 and his arrest in 1990, the residents of Rostov found themselves, to some extent, potential victims of Andrei Chikatilo. Although Chikatilo’s brutal acts were widely recognized by the Communist Party and various administrative bodies within the Soviet Union, the state propaganda maintained an image of the Soviet Union as a land free from such atrocities.

Citizen X spends a significant portion of the narrative exploring the complex character of Andrei Chikatilo, a man who initially appears as an unlikely perpetrator of such gruesome crimes. Contrary to expectations, this former school teacher and grandfather is not the bloodthirsty beast one might imagine. Instead, DeMunn’s portrayal underscores Chikatilo’s incompetence, which is evident in his personal and professional life. He struggles with job performance and intimacy, appearing as a failure in both aspects of his life. However, it’s only when he has his victims cornered that he can exert any dominance or control.

The Hunt for the Red Ripper

Investigating an unidentified attacker is challenging enough for forensics expert Viktor Burakov (Stephen Rea), but the relentless bureaucracy and obstacles in acquiring essential resources make his job even harder. Without adequate personnel and tools, Burakov’s daunting task seems almost insurmountable. The audience empathizes with the investigator’s growing frustration as they witness the situation. The local authorities, prioritizing the portrayal of a utopian communist society over capturing a serial killer, demonstrate the extent to which the Soviet Union would bend reality for the outside world.

In series like Mindhunter and Most Evil, criminal profiling technology has become more widely recognized. Burakov, however, faces challenges navigating bureaucracy due to concerns about public panic. He references the FBI’s behavioral science unit in Quantico, VA, but is denied access because it might reveal Soviet Union vulnerabilities. Despite the hurdle of political party constraints, Burakov resorts to traditional detective work and collaborates with a psychiatrist (Max Von Sydow) to develop a profile essential for capturing the mysterious “Citizen X.”

The relentless pursuit and unyielding determination that led to Chikatilo’s apprehension suggests the flaws in communism. Yet, the ultimate outcome of the game of cat-and-mouse between Burakov and Chikatilo underscores how valuable criminal profiling is, as well as the creation of a comprehensive dossier using behavioral science techniques, which have proven to be powerful tools in the fight against crime.

A Legacy of Terror and Nepotism

Citizen X remains a chilling portrait of what happens when bureaucracy and propaganda overshadow the well-being and security of a country’s citizens. As they did with their Chernobyl miniseries years later, HBO displayed the ineptitude of a regime to lower its guard and safeguard the population following a tragedy on an astronomic scale.

Before criminal profiling was widely recognized, and with the surge of true-crime series, the miniseries “Citizen X” offered viewers an exploration into the psychological dimensions of not just wickedness but also the techniques used to bring such acts to justice. The story of Andrei Chikatilo is one that delves deep into the realm of unbridled and unapologetic sociopathy, as well as the shortcomings arising from nepotism, which prioritized the protection of power over public safety.

Read More

2024-09-08 18:32