Directed by David Grieco, this chilling film explores the life of Andrei Chikatilo, the infamous Monster of Rostov. Based on Grieco’s novel The Communist Who Ate Children, this film is set against the backdrop of a decaying Soviet state. It follows Andrei Romanovich Evilenko (Malcolm McDowell), a history and literature professor whose professional life in an orphanage crumbles after he is dismissed for predatory behavior. Embittered by the decline of his nation, Evilenko retreats into a life of unimaginable horror, becoming a serial killer who hunts, mutilates and cannibalizes women and children.
Vadim Timurovic Lesiev (Marton Csokas), a dedicated magistrate and family man, spends years attempting to track down the killer. Assisted by the psychiatric profiler Aron Richter (played by Ronald Pickup), he soon learns that Evilenko seems to have some kind of hypnotic influence over his victims, a power that allows him to commit his crimes and evade capture for years. As the Soviet era fades, the cat-and-mouse game between the determined Lesiev and the elusive ideological killer culminates in a desperate, dark conclusion.
Grieco spent time as a film critic for the Communist newspaper L’Unità and personally witnessed the real-life investigation. He was inspired to make the film after seeing the real Andrei Chikatilo on television and becoming fascinated by the paradox of a card-carrying Communist intellectual committing such horrific acts. The film’s atmosphere is heightened by a score composed by Angelo Badalamenti.
The Unearthed Films release of this film has a 4K restoration of the original camera negative by Unearthed Films; commentary with writer/director David Grieco and actor Malcolm McDowell; an 81 minute cast and crew interview collection including writer/director David Grieco, actor Malcolm McDowell and composer Angelo Badalamenti; Evilenko Dossier: Andrei Chikatilo, a 27-minute look at the real-life basis for the character of Evilenko; David Grieco and Malcolm McDowell on Evilenko, a 69-minute interview from 2021; a photo gallery and a trailer. You can get the 4K UHD and Blu-Ray from MVD.
