LikeFritzLang，DavidFincherorBongJoonHobeforehim，talenteddebutfilmmakerLadoKvataniyausestheconceptofpolicedetectivevsserialkillerforanexcitinglystylised，macabreandhauntingnarrative，thatultimatelyrevolvesaroundtheidentityofanera∶inthiscase，thelate1980sSovietUnion.WithGlasnostandtheendofcommunistrule，theWestalsolearnedofthe(unsurprising)factthattherewereserialkillersinRussiatoo–themostnotoriouscaseprobablythatofAndreiChikatilo，nicknamedtheRostovRipper，ortheRussianHannibalLecter. Basedontheseandmanyothersources，KvataniyaandscreenwriterOlgaGorodetskayaconstructedanimmersivepsychologicalpuzzle，jumpingbackandforthintime，torevealevernew-possiblemotivesfortheactionsofalltheprotagonists.Itallstartsin1990，whenDetectiveIssaDavydoviscelebratinghispromotionandreceivesacall，reportingacrimethatlookspreciselyliketheonesoftheserialkillerthathefamouslycapturedsomeyearsbefore...