Film: Zodiac
Director: David Fincher
Country: USA
Released: February 2007
Runtime: 157 minutes
Genre: Crime Drama
Studio: Paramount, Warner Bros
Influenced: Bryan Fuller, Søren Sveistrup, Joe Penhall, Nic Pizzolatto, Sally Wainwright
David Fincher has the unique honour of being the director of two of the greatest serial killer movies of all time. Bizarrely, Zodiac was originally supposed to be directed by David Lynch, starring Gary Oldman as the killer, so the mind boggles at how different it might have ended up. Zodiac is almost the antithesis of Se7en, one open-ended and unresolved and the other neatly tied up at the end. Fincher first became aware of the Zodiac case in the early 1990s, and was fascinated by its lack of closure, as well as the cinematic potential of an unidentified killer who taunts the police with cryptic letters and ciphers. Fincher began to develop an idea for a film about the Zodiac killer, based on the true events during the late 1960s and early 1970s surrounding the unsolved case in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it took many years to find a studio willing to finance the project.
Fincher, known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking, aimed to capture the complexity of the investigation and the toll it took on those involved. His production team spent months researching the Zodiac case and interviewing the real-life characters who were involved in the investigation. The story primarily follows newspaper cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), the real-life author of the books upon which James Vanderbilt's screenplay is based, as he becomes obsessed with solving the Zodiac case. The film is also told from the perspective of two other main characters: Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle who is also investigating the Zodiac killer; and Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), a San Francisco Police Department detective who leads the investigation. The film spans several decades, covering the various murders, investigations and the impact on the lives of those trying to uncover the killer's identity.
Stylistically, the films tread a fine genre line between crime thriller and film noir, with occasional elements of horror. There are several chilling moments in the film, including the recreation of the real-life Lake Berryessa attack by the Zodiac Killer on a young couple, but undoubtedly the most tense and suspenseful scene is set in the basement. The dim lighting, the isolated setting and the uncertainty surrounding the suspect's identity create an atmosphere of real dread. Fincher used a number of innovative camera techniques, such as handheld shooting and extreme close-ups, to create a sense of tension and claustrophobia. He also employed advanced digital technology for visual effects to evoke the time period, including CGI to recreate the Zodiac killer's ciphers. Fincher paid careful attention to historical accuracy, including details like the specific fonts used in the Zodiac's letters. Shot on location in San Francisco, the film benefits from an unsettling score composed by Clint Mansell.
While Zodiac didn't achieve significant commercial success, it received critical acclaim for its direction, writing and performances. As well as the fine lead performances, Zodiac also benefits from several excellent cameos from the likes of Brian Cox and Elias Koteas. It was nominated for two Oscars – Best Cinematography (Harris Savides) and Best Sound Editing – and also won the Edgar Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as recognition from BAFTA and the American Society of Cinematographers. Like Bong Joon-Ho's Memories of Murder (2003), the film was praised for its realistic portrayal of a serial killer investigation and the psychological toll on those involved, including the wider community. The film's deliberate pacing and focus on character development set it apart from typical crime dramas, and Zodiac's influence can continue to be seen on a number of TV crime dramas. Indeed, TV is now the preferred medium for this type of in-depth look at serial killer investigations, from Mindhunter (2017-19) to True Detective (2014-24).
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