SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

just watch it!

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

This very heavy movie is based on a mostly documented book by a communist writer, who was observing this kind of events when he was working between real chekists in a real Russian town shortly after October 1917 revolution. At that time, before 1923, the young writer/journalist was thinking that the revolutionary books should show true life. Soon he has been explained about his mistake. Himself did not survive 1937, was executed when a much more extended murder of Soviet people was organized; but we have got a book, published 52 years after the author death, and, later, this movie, showing what he was observing in the very early years of Soviet Union. Due to the personal involvement of the author, practically participating in the events, psychological conflicts inside of a person (main "hero" of the movie) are shown. It is clearly seen, that not only those, killed by dozens in cellars cannot survive the "revolution", but also murderers will not be able to stay human and keep consciousness and reason, when are involved in such atrocities.

This movie is definitely one of the darkest views on the Red Terror genocide that took place in 1918-1921 in Russia. Totally gripping and shocking as it can be...My opinion is that this movie reveals more historic facts than any other such movies about genocide(Schindler List,Hotel Rwanda) and unlike Hollywood sappy crap,this has no sentimental characters,only the bloody and merciless face of Russian revolution. Actors play is absolutely realistic,execution scenes are deeply disturbing.Probably the most shocking Russian film in years(even more shocking than 4) If you want to have an unforgettable evening,see it...it will stick in your mind for a long time! Rogozhkin should have stick up with this kind of movies...not like he does now,about Russian hunting and vodka bar.

The above reviews have captured "The Chekist" pretty well. It's all that! But above all, extremely sad. Absolutely pitiful that men like this actually existed and committed the same atrocities as depicted here. Some of the scenes are hair-raising, as these poor people meekly and silently accept their fate and are slaughtered without trial or mercy.I have not seen the movie in a few years, but it one of the ONES that will always stick with me. I can still hear the echoes of the pistol shots that resound with a horrific "BANG". And of course, the bodies. The treatment these people received is beyond what I can say. This film is almost must see, but I can understand why someone would prefer not to watch it. To watch this classic is to understand that it probably will stay with you for a very long time. And it should.

A small Russian town in the early 1900's is the backdrop for this deeply disturbing film about a group of communist revolutionaries called the cheka-men who spend their days rounding up their political rivals for execution.The majority of the film takes place inside the basement of a charnel house. We are witnesses to execution after execution as people are killed with rapid expediency and professionalism. Men, women and children are forced to strip, stand against a wall, and then are shot. When the dead are removed, five more are brought in and the atrocity is committed again.There is not a moments reprieve from the brutality as director Rogozhkin plants the camera and the story inside that basement. I found his examination of the assassin's mindset most interesting. Early on, the cheka-men seem indifferent to their jobs, but as the film winds down, we see that all the killing has slowly begun to erode their very souls.Igor Sergeyev is amazing as the ambitious chekist who finds himself caught up in a machine of death that he helped to create and slowly losing his mind.The film is like passing a car accident on a highway, it's horrible and you might not like what you see but you can't take your eyes off of it. A disturbing film that is hard to forget.