LikeFritzLang,DavidFincherorBongJoonHobeforehim,talenteddebutfilmmakerLadoKvataniyausestheconceptofpolicedetectivevsserialkillerforanexcitinglystylised,macabreandhauntingnarrative,thatultimatelyrevolvesaroundtheidentityofanera:inthiscase,thelate1980sSovietUnionWithGlasnostandtheendofcommunistrule,theWestalsolearnedoftheunsurprisingfactthattherewereserialkillersinRussiatoo–themostnotoriouscaseprobablythatofAndreiChikatilo,nicknamedtheRostovRipper,ortheRussianHannibalLecter　　Basedontheseandmanyothersources,KvataniyaandscreenwriterOlgaGorodetskayaconstructedanimmersivepsychologicalpuzzle,jumpingbackandforthintime,torevealevernewpossiblemotivesfortheactionsofalltheprotagonistsItallstartsin1990,whenDetectiveIssaDavydoviscelebratinghispromotionandreceivesacall,reportingacrimethatlookspreciselyliketheonesoftheserialkillerthathefamouslycapturedsomeyearsbefore