I'm rather split between whether I like this movie or not. Sure, I did enjoy it but there are some things that kind of bothered me. Mostly small details that I felt were either completely wrong or just things that I felt that the writer had missed. But of course there where a lot of excellent things that were mentioned and really brought out about Andrei Chikatilo (a name he later took, for you who didn't already know). I liked how they brought out Chikatilos passion for communism. According to what i have read about him he was very patriotic and a communist party member, so therefor you can imagine that he actually was as he was portrayed in the movie when it came to communist politics. There was also the great acting of Malcolm McDowell. The way he portrayed how Chikatilo felt uneasy when he felt his blood lust return and how he became more calm afterward. Accordning to authors of various books on Chikatilo he had told the police after his arrest that it was like a craving he had and it could only be quenched by the blood of his victims. And you could see that under the surface of Chikatilo in the movie when he was out in public. As if he seemed rather anxious and uneasy but was trying to hide it so that nobody would realize it.
But there were a lot of minor details that really bothered me. And I know this is just a movie and not really a documentary, but still. Like how he had no children in the movie, but the real life Chikatilo actually had 2. Yes he was impotent when it came to normal sex, but that doesn't make it impossible for them to have children. And then there was the fact that the main reason Chikatilo murdered people was because of sexual satisfaction through sadism. Chikatilo was a grade a sadist that only could achieve an orgasm through the pain of others. That's why he butchered and mutilated all those people. But instead they just skipped that whole part and drew it over as insanity. That was just all wrong. Chikatilo never was insane. (even though he tried for an insanity plea at court by acting as if he had various illnesses such as schizophrenia) He knew perfectly well what he was doing every single time. And what was up with that whole "hypnotist" bit? I mean that's the first time I've heard that about him. Sure he was said to have been very charismatic but I think that was taking it too far.
But all in all I think you can enjoy this movie if you're a fan of other serial killer movies like this one (Dahmer, Bundy etc etc). I was a little bit to distracted about details to have enjoyed this to the fullest. And I've heard a lot of talk about this other movie about Andrei "Chikatilo" Romanovic and that it is better, but everyone has different taste so you never know.
I give five because of my personal distractions. I'm not saying that it's bad at all. On the contrary, if you like this kind of movie you should definitely see it. If not, watch Hostel instead. It sucks, but at least the production values are good.
Sorry for all the rambling. Cheers
But there were a lot of minor details that really bothered me. And I know this is just a movie and not really a documentary, but still. Like how he had no children in the movie, but the real life Chikatilo actually had 2. Yes he was impotent when it came to normal sex, but that doesn't make it impossible for them to have children. And then there was the fact that the main reason Chikatilo murdered people was because of sexual satisfaction through sadism. Chikatilo was a grade a sadist that only could achieve an orgasm through the pain of others. That's why he butchered and mutilated all those people. But instead they just skipped that whole part and drew it over as insanity. That was just all wrong. Chikatilo never was insane. (even though he tried for an insanity plea at court by acting as if he had various illnesses such as schizophrenia) He knew perfectly well what he was doing every single time. And what was up with that whole "hypnotist" bit? I mean that's the first time I've heard that about him. Sure he was said to have been very charismatic but I think that was taking it too far.
But all in all I think you can enjoy this movie if you're a fan of other serial killer movies like this one (Dahmer, Bundy etc etc). I was a little bit to distracted about details to have enjoyed this to the fullest. And I've heard a lot of talk about this other movie about Andrei "Chikatilo" Romanovic and that it is better, but everyone has different taste so you never know.
I give five because of my personal distractions. I'm not saying that it's bad at all. On the contrary, if you like this kind of movie you should definitely see it. If not, watch Hostel instead. It sucks, but at least the production values are good.
Sorry for all the rambling. Cheers