FFFA: The Execution

“This is a bad ass Russian serial killer film.” - Letterboxd user Antonio Quintero

A woman discovered stumbling out of a forest bears the calling cards of a serial killer case long closed. Detective Issa Valentinotich takes it upon himself to solve this reopened investigation; he is worried about how this new attack will affect his career and recent promotion. Valentinotich’s original investigation into the series of brutal murders took place several years ago, in the highly turbulent political environment of 1988 USSR. As the investigation grows increasingly personal, the motives of each on-screen character become less and less clear. A horrific mix of institutionalised manipulation, toxic masculinity and senseless violence surround the detective as he connects the dots of this case while its blood-soaked conclusion looms ahead of him.  

Following in the legacy of staples of the genre - think M, True Detective, Memories of Murder and Seven - The Execution utilises the stylised and macabre police detective vs serial killer set-up to devastating effect.

FFFA unequivocally condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but supports dissident artists working within Russia. 

Rating

E

Language

Russian (English subtitles)

Cast

Oleg Akkuzin, Ekaterina Ermishina

Director

Lado Kvataniya