This movie is such a weird mix of typical grainy depressing soviet expressionist cinema and more modern lets actually make a movie that has entertainment value school of thought. For something that came out in 2021, it is unfortunately very confused between these two approaches which results in a production that is moody, disjointed, often incoherent and frankly, flat out boring at times. Yet it is not too boring, however it is very difficult to keep track because of how they jump through different scenes that take place in different YEARS yet we are not really focused on that as a viewer, and instead, sidelined into majority of the action taking place in 2-3 literal rooms..
Anyway. This is a crime thriller make no mistake about it. A gritty murderous crime thriller about soviet detectives trying to solve serial murders. Also make no mistake, the characters are very soviet. Depressingly soviet. Perhaps over the top soviet even as they are moody and monotone, even dystopian and very cliched.
How can I go into detail without spoilers here, because if i spoil it, there will be no point to watch it, and there are several good plot twists here. If you are to watch this movie, you will probably think or see at least one of those coming, but you will not see all of them. They put some thought into obscuring things which ended up backfiring I would say. It is difficult to follow and downright confusing at times. Several times i completely lost track which year the movie was in (it changes many times). Worse than that however, i did not care which year it was in! Their entire timeframe felt completely immaterial to the script and plot, only serving as a devise to show the length of time the case was worked. Yes, we get it, it is 10 years. It is literally in your official plot summary. Does the viewer care? No. Should the viewer care? No. You have done nothing to make those 10 years relevant in any real way other than to symbolize soviet incompetence and stagnation of the soviet investigative system. Ok we get it; but is boring and you could have done better.
The better aspects are that is follows the same theme, from the decor to the surroundings to the props to the characters. Individual acting is acceptable, if sadly too theatrical at times giving you the feeling of a stage play. Violence... yes some. If they wanted to go there, they might have done better to take it straight to SAW levels. Because if you are going to have people beat up and sitting in their blood (and other things), at least do the effects and show us. You went for shock value, without the shock!
To watch this successfully you have to be in the proper mood. Would suggest it if you like to watch convoluted movies with several plot twists while leaving you unentertained and unrewarded for putting up with it all for 2 hours. If you are a fan of soviet style moody cinema, you will like this quite a lot. For everybody else, this is easily a 5, max a 6 which I give it based on the revelations near the end.
