Child 44 (1st of the MGB Agent Leo Demidov Trilogy-2008/Movie-2015) Ayala Mall Cinemas Exclusive

In 1950s Soviet Russia, secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) loses everything when he refuses to denounce his wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace) as a traitor. Finding themselves exiled to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with Gen. Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to capture a serial killer who preys on young boys. They soon find that their investigation threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Vasili (Joel Kinnaman), Leo's psychopathic rival. -WWW
Official Website

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

Written for the screen by: Richard Price

Produced by: Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer and Greg Shapiro

(Source)

The Ayala Cinemas boasted about having exclusive rights in showing this film to the general public, but that wasn't what attracted me to this film. I was attracted by the tagline: "How do you find a killer that doesn't exist?"

Yes. I wondered to myself. How?

The movie was based from the best seller written by Tom Rob Smith of the same title based on the crimes of Andrei Chikatilo, and I must say that the movie adaptation is very riveting, nail-biting, traumatic and victorious. Yes, like some other movies that made a mark in my heart, this too put me to the edge of my seat.

Even with the many subplots, the main plot was not forgotten and when the intertwining of events finally met at an intersection, it pulled some heartstrings too.

This story may be fictionalized, but it is definitely based on true events. These events still effect Ukraine and Russia of today and probably, the whole wide world.

Tom Hardy has always been good, but he did his part as Leo Demidov very well. Through Tom Hardy's acting, I saw how Leo truly loved Raisa and how he gave her the benefit of the doubt because of that same love. He tried to be objective...

I would try not to give spoilers, but I couldn't help, but share what a certain couple who were seated behind me were discussing: "How did Raisa(Noomi Rapace) know that he couldn't read?"asked the woman. "She's a teacher and a very good one at that. She saw in his eyes that he wasn't really reading,"observed the man.

Who? What scene? Where? What are you talking about?

You might be wondering about all those questions above. If you are too curious, then watch the movie. ;-) Watch it from start to finish. If you wish, you could also buy the trilogy(books).

It was great that they did not typecast anyone here. Joel Kinnaman, who, more often than not, plays the good guy, plays a bad guy here. Gary Oldman, who usually plays the villain, again, more often than not, plays someone who....Oh, just watch the movie, OK?

If you love kids, you would feel for the children and their families, or their lack of one, but somehow, you would also understand why the perpetrators did all those things too.

All the cover-ups really broke my heart. No murder in paradise???? They call that hell-hole paradise?????

Oh well...

Vince Cassel is here too. He is subtle, but very hateful too. Again, he never fails to deliver.

In toto, even if the movie is flawed, this movie is also G-R-E-A-T! Don't miss this. Even with all the pain and anguish, it is a very beautiful and memorable film.

Unfortunately or fortunately, children below 16 would not be allowed to enter the cinemas.

Kudos to the cast and crew. EVERYONE(including Fares Fares, Jason Clarke, Paddy Considine and Joseph Altin) did well. You made me believe that I was in that era. I did not even notice that the movie was quite longer than the average full length feature for there was no dead air at all. Yes, the movie seemed real, or at the very least, it felt like the actors were just in front of me, performing LIVE.

Sigh.

Please go and catch this very beautiful movie. Your heart might be torn to pieces, but towards the end, you would sort of, kind of, feel a bit light inside.