Not for casual viewing or simple entertainment; tragedies aren't.

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2015)

This movie has a story to tell and it's a tragedy, so don't expect a thriller or suspense or simple drama. I was somewhat familiar with the theme because I remember vividly the 1995 Citizen X movie starring Stephen Rea and Donald Sutherland. I liked it and some did not. The same criticism was written about both movies; it's to be expected but it doesn't mean it's correct. Those who can't stand tragedies shouldn't watch them and ought not write reviews about them because they'll never be satisfied.
If you haven't read the synopsis for both movies, do; I'll not copy it, you surely can read it if you haven't already.
Daniel Espinosa did a fine job with this story. As I mentioned before it's virtually the same story as Citizen X(1995) insofar as the fact based serial killing goes as well as the political and law enforcement system is depicted. But in this 2015 version we are offered more background on the principal characters and instead of the solitary Lt. Viktor Burakov played by Stephen Rea and his wife played by Imelda Staunton we have Leo and Raisa played by Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace, the later figuring much more as the 2015 version gives us a sub-story right there and one that helps the ending tremendously. The counter to Donald Sutherland's Col. Mikhail Fetisov would be Gary Oldman's character if I can stretch the comparisons.
Child 44 simply has more characters and all have dark personalities. Tragedies don't have levity, there's not one bit of it in Child 44. I loved the cast, a virtual who's who of dramatic performers. Even the musical score sounded tragic in just the right measure. In order for this story to deliver, the pace is generally slow, slow works better because there's much to absorb from the characters and what ties them together; thus slow works best.
The movie is not a political condemnation of the system; history has taken care of that well enough thank you very much. The struggle to bring to light what the system tried so hard to burry could be told just as well in other countries and systems during that period, but the serial killing is one in particular so the Stalin era is a good choice, but that's just my opinion. The opening line 'There's no murder in Paradise' is something between irony and sarcasm but dramatically gets us off in a judgemental mode, one hard to leave. I think this was deliberate but I could be wrong.
I am a big Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace fan so my review can't be expected to be entirely objective. A Ridley Scott production also carries some positive weight for me. There are fine, I say fine supporting actors in this movie as well. I was not disappointed in the least. If you usually enjoy the genre you will undoubtedly like this film.