Time for another reboot and this one was a pleasant surprise from Unearthed Films. Not only because it stars the iconic, is Malcolm McDowell, but it is loosely based on the true story of the most prolifically evil Russian serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo. Derived from David Grieco’s book, “The Communist Who Ate Children”, we are instantly immersed into one of the most disturbing opening scenes I’ve ever experienced.

It is 1984, Kiev (Soviet Union) and proud school teacher Andrej Romanovic Evilenko instructs his class of youngsters through mechanisms of fear and servitude. When faced with a precocious pre-teen student flirting with a classmate, she is given detention by the terrifying instructor who brazenly calls her a whore as she sweeps the floor. What follows will make you so uncomfortable, you’ll crawl right out of your own skin and want to drown out the sound of his voice, let alone burn out your corneas when witnessing the grooming technique he pushes upon this little girl. The perversion is inescapable and only magnifies as time draws on.

Thrusted forward by 4 years, we learn that Andrej has not only continued his atrocious acts on women and children, but he’s perfected the initiation. Although hard to comprehend, Andrej’s fixated stare into his chosen victims becomes hypnotic whereas he no longer needs to speak or attack. He connects through an evil gaze and waits for his prey to join him on their own free will. Unknowingly realizing the outcome of the spellbinding effect, each child magnetically follows Andrej to their own terrible death.

It's during one of these somewhat outrageous methods where a psychotherapist takes his opportunity to capture the devilish serial killer for his own personal gain. However, reality isn’t always kind and the confrontation goes awry. Now, we know why this doctor labeled him as an exceptional being. One with incomparable psychopathic urges, that is!

The only bit of wickedness that gives Andrej’s bloodthirst a run for its money, would be his twisted dedication to the communist party. It begins to serve as a “get out of jail free card” whenever he is the target of investigation. It goes without reason when a KGB captain advises his detective Vadim Timurovic Lesiev to wait for the next innocent child to be victimized in order for the department to actually catch this ruthless rapist/killer “with his pants down”. The lines of communism are thinly separated, overcast by a veil of doubt through a corrupted government that could easily take a blind eye on murder. It’s grotesque to say the least, but that was 1980’s communism.

McDowell’s brilliance is unsurpassed once again. He brings back the unclenched impiety to this role at a monstrous level. Who else could hold a glare that long without so much as a blink of an eye? (Watch the first 1.13 minutes of A Clockwork Orange and you’ll see firsthand.) McDowell is the king of deranged character development! Props to his majesty for pulling off another stellar and memorable feat.