Child 44

Summit Entertainment | Release Date: April 17, 2015

5.6	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 138 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

jasharkowalskiJul 22, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a refreshment in the age of blockbusters and animated movies....yes, for this movie one should be older than 13 and should be concentrated a lil' longer than usual 5 seconds...Tom Hardy is excellent while Naomi is a perfect choice for the role of Raisa....a must see !… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

All this user's reviews

TGFY_BoomerangJun 13, 2015

I didn't expect much from this movie, but as an American movie about the UdSSR it was pretty good. The story, the characters and the dialogs are all right. In the end the movie became a little bit to long, but overall it was a niceI didn't expect much from this movie, but as an American movie about the UdSSR it was pretty good. The story, the characters and the dialogs are all right. In the end the movie became a little bit to long, but overall it was a nice experience. The action scenes are caught well and at all stages of the movie you have the feeling, that the actions of the actors actually do make sense. I enjoyed this movie, it is told pretty slowly but finds the right pace to be quite thrilling.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

GinaKApr 17, 2015

I don’t understand why this film got such mediocre reviews. It is beautifully made (ok, it’s a tad long) with wonderful performances from everyone. I was not bored (and I am easily bored), and all this talk about the critics not being able toI don’t understand why this film got such mediocre reviews. It is beautifully made (ok, it’s a tad long) with wonderful performances from everyone. I was not bored (and I am easily bored), and all this talk about the critics not being able to understand the accents is absurd. Are they playing their earbuds too loud? Or maybe you have to have lived through the years before the Berlin Wall fell (or didn’t sleep through modern history class in college) to understand the Russian society that is faithfully portrayed. It is so sad when such a beautifully made film is so little appreciated.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

All this user's reviews

ThegodfathersonApr 17, 2015

Child 44 is brutal, refreshing and nail biting entertainment, that does justice to the book. Tom Hardy gives a solid perfromance as Leo Demidov and Gary Oldman was great in his place as well. Daniel Espinosa, known for Ryan Reynolds's spyChild 44 is brutal, refreshing and nail biting entertainment, that does justice to the book. Tom Hardy gives a solid perfromance as Leo Demidov and Gary Oldman was great in his place as well. Daniel Espinosa, known for Ryan Reynolds's spy thriller- Safe House, brings his creative mindset along with the ride. It is long though, and yawns could be heard in the last 30 minutes of the film in the theatre, but it is beautifuly crafted and made. This is one of the best cold war flicks, and captures the human nature of revenge and drama quite well. Child 44 should have a definate spot on your week's list of things to watch.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

All this user's reviews

zouz123Apr 17, 2015

Yes the story is a bit flawed, but the ride is enjoyable. The most annoying thing is the made-up Russian accent that doesn't work, but the performances are strong and overall it's not a bad movie.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

All this user's reviews

wornoutspinesApr 18, 2015

Child 44 has an intriguing plot and takes place in such an interesting era in soviet history. The film's not very straight forward because they really set it up, the era, the back stories, the relationship between the characters are all setChild 44 has an intriguing plot and takes place in such an interesting era in soviet history. The film's not very straight forward because they really set it up, the era, the back stories, the relationship between the characters are all set up before they hit the ground running with the selling point of story. So you sort of know your characters - who they are, how they see themselves, and how other people see them - when you get in the thick of it.

The set up in Child 44 makes for a lot of tense relationships and subplots in the film that only adds to the realistic feel of the situation. The sheer fear, paranoia, and despair is palpable. The cast did a great job as to giving us an insight of what’s going on in these character’s heads. There is a lot more going on than just the investigation, Agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy) has all these hurdles that he has to overcome to reach his goal, to potentially catch this serial killer.

As interesting as the investigation is, the relationship between the characters is as captivating, but Raissa (Noomi Rapace) and Leo’s is quite the unconventional love story. A great attention to details was put in the film but I gotta say, the contacts on some of the actors looked cheap as hell and sort of threw me off whenever I looked at them. And as good as I think the movie is, there is no doubt in my mind that the book is infinitely better because the film lacks a certain finesse that experiencing a book has.

Child 44 is a dark thriller with an intriguing and riveting plot with great dramatic tension. @wornoutspines… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

All this user's reviews

djniceyApr 18, 2015

This film is another example of why I ignore critic scores and make my own mind up about the films I go to see.

I think the critics must have been watching a different film to me, it was very well acted, has great cinematography, is anThis film is another example of why I ignore critic scores and make my own mind up about the films I go to see.

I think the critics must have been watching a different film to me, it was very well acted, has great cinematography, is an interesting story and gives you a dramatised insight into how life might have been in Russia after WW2. I thought the first 10 minutes weren't a very good introduction to the plot and it did slow in places, and was particularly brutal in a few scenes, but was very watchable, interesting, and definately worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

BhaktiMay 9, 2015

The story is confused if you haven't read the book yet. Because the story is complicated and at the same time so well composed. But if you have read the book actually it's one of the best adapted film versions of a book. Well acted, allThe story is confused if you haven't read the book yet. Because the story is complicated and at the same time so well composed. But if you have read the book actually it's one of the best adapted film versions of a book. Well acted, all important parts of the book are in the film, and even the relation between the protagonist (Demidov) and his wife is well done in between the stories.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

All this user's reviews

quincytheodoreAug 24, 2015

The few good ones on a wintry harsh time.

Child 44 is a crime investigation with the backdrop of treason and espionage in post-World War II Russia. It's a bizarre take on detective flick and leaning more towards social commentary and theThe few good ones on a wintry harsh time.

Child 44 is a crime investigation with the backdrop of treason and espionage in post-World War II Russia. It's a bizarre take on detective flick and leaning more towards social commentary and the psychological repercussion of the time. It may be a bit slow as subplots are overlapping, but the great acting from the leading actors present an engaging spectacle.

Leo Demidova (Tom Hardy) is an upstanding officer of Russia. During the cold era of Stalin, he presides over many investigations to uproot treachery. His life and carrier would change drastically as a serial child killer emerges. He's soon demoted for chasing the truth, and with only his estranged wife Raisa (Noomi Rapace) at his side, he adamantly pursues the killer.

This is a complex setting for crime thriller, and it still works mostly due to the actors' capable performance. Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace are both splendid on creating the human drama, audience would root for his character who is idealistic almost to a fault and in expense of personal relationship. Tom Hardy looks believable as an officer, more importantly a man, trying to do right despite the oppressive nature he must deal with.

Noomi Rapace looks confident as a survivor, she wears a tough front and confidently strong yet has a fragile side as well. These two are not the usual spouse as their issues are pretty dysfunctional and sadly deep-rooted, occasionally they might even resemble partners than husband and wife. Gary Oldman is versatile and certainly impressive here, he pulls off the magnetic general in stoic manner, yet still seemingly combative at times.

The narrative covers a great deal of subjects. This in turn creates a longer runtime as well as more subplots. Granted, it may be too slow for some audience. Its mix on the crime and social aspects take time to bear fruit. It is rewarding in the end, although the first half might feel plodding and not every angles work. The action could be better too, since the camera shakes violently in a few of the action sequences.

This is a different kind of thriller, it traverses through not only one but many touchy subjects. However, the acting prowess and adequate material present a fascinating look on the time and the cruelty it harbors.… Expand