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