Zodiac (2007, United States)
investigative journalismpolice investigationserial killertrue crime stories
Running time: 155 minutes
Language: English
Locations: the story takes place in San FranciscoCaliforniaUnited States
Zodiac 2007 American mystery drama review
In 1968 starts the story of the Zodiac Killer, which will keep the San Francisco area residents in fear for several years to come. An unknown assailant shoots young people in their cars parked in lover’s lanes and concentrates especially on the women. Only one man survives the attack, but can give only a very vague description of the culprit. While the case gets not much traction in the media, the killer soon drags police into a strange cat and mouse game by sending coded messages to the local newspapers signed the Zodiac Killer. A cartoonist in one of those newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle, becomes obsessed with the investigation, trying to figure out the identity of the killer by himself. While he is chasing bits of information, he unveils the facts that could mean that the Zodiac Killer started his evil murder spree much earlier than anyone suspected. But with each step of the way, he comes closer to putting himself in danger.
Despite several factual errors incorporated into the screenplay, it is one of the best true-crime movies based on real events - it is gripping, good cast, well performed and, above all, kept real and down to earth. Definitely not to be missed!
Do you like unsolved mysteries?
Our rating |
9.6 / 10 |
Movie value |
10 / 10 |
Realism factor |
4 / 5 |
Adventure factor |
5 / 5 |
Story complexity |
5 / 5 |
57 |
Watch Zodiac
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Cast of Zodiac
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as Robert Graysmith | |
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as Inspector David Toschi | |
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as Inspector William Armstrong | |
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as Paul Avery | |
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as Arthur Leigh Allen | |
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as Melvin Belli | |
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as Captain Ken Narlow | |
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as Melanie Graysmith |
Zodiac trivia
Only facts
The concept of director David Fincher, that only the facts should be included in the film, caused some of the Zodiac crimes not to be depicted at all, because there were no witnesses or survivors to corroborate. Of course some creative liberties were taken, f.e. creating friendship between Greysmith and Avery, but overall film sticks to the facts.
The film conclusion
Spoiler alert! Despite film concluding that Arthur Leigh Allen was the Zodiac, DNA tests done in 2002 did not confirmed he was author of the letters sent by the Zodiac.
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