Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman’s “gritty and tough” flop has found a new UK streaming home

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A gripping thriller featuring stars like Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy is now available to stream in the UK.

Based on Tom Rob Smith’s 2008 novel, Child 44 takes place in the Soviet Union during the 1950s, under the rule of Stalin.

I’m playing this game where I’m Captain Leo Demidov, a war hero, and things get really dark. I’m trying to solve a string of child murders, but I keep getting in trouble with my superiors because I’m not doing things their way. It’s a tough case, and I’m pretty much on my own.

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When Leo is demoted and transferred to a militia post with his wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), he meets his new commander, Colonel Mikhail Nesterov (Oldman), who offers assistance in solving the case of the serial killer.

Originally released in 2015, the movie is now available to watch on Prime Video in the UK.

Directed by Daniel Espinosa (known for 2022’s Morbius), Child 44 also features Jason Clarke, Vincent Cassel, Paddy Considine, and Charles Dance in its cast.

I was really disappointed when Child 44 didn’t do well, especially knowing the script was written by Richard Price! The guy’s a legend – he wrote The Color of Money, which got an Oscar nomination, and he’s been behind some amazing TV shows like The Wire and The Night Of. You’d think with that kind of talent, the movie would have been a hit, but sadly, it just didn’t connect with audiences or critics.

Okay, so I’ve been checking out what people are saying about Child 44. It’s kinda weird – a lot of regular movie fans on IMDb seem to really dig it, calling it raw and intense. But professional critics over on Rotten Tomatoes? Not so much. They weren’t really feeling it, apparently.

Espinosa’s latest thriller has received poor reviews, scoring only 30% with critics. The Irish Times described it as a dull and confusing story with a rushed and unbelievable ending.

Critics weren’t impressed with the movie. RogerEbert.com called it overly long and disorganized, and Entertainment Weekly compared watching it to endlessly eating a bland soup.

Okay, so The Guardian wasn’t totally down on Tom Hardy’s performance. They said he’s definitely watchable as Leo, bringing that strong, physical presence he’s known for. But honestly, they found the detective work itself really boring – no interesting clues or mind games, just… dull. They didn’t feel invested in how he solved the case at all.

Child 44 is streaming on Prime Video in the UK.

The latest issue of Living Legends magazine is now available, and it’s dedicated to the incredible Dolly Parton! You can find ‘Dolly at 80’ in shops that sell magazines or order it online for only £8.99.

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2025-12-30 20:49