Many critics slammed this film when it was released a few months ago. On IMDB, ratings have a striking discrepancy with some users giving Child 44 only one star while others gave it 10 stars and claimed it to be one of the better films this year. I come down on the side of the more positive reviewers though.
I can see why reviewers didn’t like this. It’s a tough film. It’s about child murders in Russia during the reign of Stalin. It shows the horror and fear of living in Communist Russia during the start of the Cold War. The film’s subject matter is challenging and there is a grim feel to everything. But that doesn’t take away the fact that this is a superbly acted, compelling crime drama with important social-political questions being brought up in nearly ever scene. Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) gives on of the best female performances this year. Tom Hardy is mesmerizing as the lead. The biggest issue this film has (besides it’s gloomy subject matter) is that it’s about 45 minutes too long (due mostly to a script that meanders plot-wise) but there are so many compelling moments that I’d still recommend this as a really solid film.