Andrei Chikatilo

A startling documentary about the world’s most brutal serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, a former Russian school teacher who was sentenced to death last October after a dramatic trial in which he was convicted of killing, mutilating, and cannibalising 52 women and children. Chikatilo is currently held in a bare provincial prison cell in the south of Russia awaiting a date with his executioner, giving exclusive interviews before and after the trial and plenty of astonishing footage captured by the police and KGB. We hear from relatives of his victims, former work colleagues, and experts on serial killers with the Moscow psychiatrist who proclaimed him sane. Highlights of the dramatic trial included the judges summing up and the sentencing which brought cheers and spontaneous applause from a packed courtroom in Rostov.

This documentary examines a selection of real life serial killers and compares them to the fictional Hannibal Lecter.

Russia is grappling with a critical issue: they have become the country with the most at large serial killers in the world particularly concentrated in Rostov, the same city that witnessed Andrei Chikatilo's infamous killing spree. In response, law enforcement has turned to Dr. Alexander Bukhanovsky, a prominent psychiatrist and criminal profiler, who is implementing radical measures to understand the root causes of this phenomenon and develop effective solutions. Within Dr. Bukhanovsky's clinic, we encounter three of his young patients: Edward and Igor, whose families express deep concerns about their disturbing fantasies, and 'Mischa', who has perpetrated acts of torture and sexual assault. Dr. Bukhanovsky's approach is groundbreaking, offering treatment to potential serial offenders. However, critics argue that by keeping individuals like 'Mischa' anonymous, he may inadvertently shield them from public awareness and accountability, prompting debate over the ethics of his methods.