zodiac movie review imdb

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

Now streaming on:

'Zodiac" is the "All the President's Men" of serial killer movies, with Woodward and Bernstein played by a cop and a cartoonist. It's not merely "based" on California's infamous Zodiac killings, but seems to exude the very stench and provocation of the case. The killer, who was never caught, generously supplied so many clues that Sherlock Holmes might have cracked the case in his sitting room. But only a newspaper cartoonist was stubborn enough, and tunneled away long enough, to piece together a convincing case against a man who was perhaps guilty.

The film is a police procedural crossed with a newspaper movie, but free of most of the cliches of either. Its most impressive accomplishment is to gather a bewildering labyrinth of facts and suspicions over a period of years, and make the journey through this maze frightening and suspenseful. I could imagine becoming hopelessly mired in the details of the Zodiac investigation, but director David Fincher (" Seven ") and his writer, James Vanderbilt , find their way with clarity through the murk. In a film with so many characters, the casting by Laray Mayfield is also crucial; like the only eyewitness in the case, we remember a face once we've seen it.

The film opens with a sudden, brutal, bloody killing, followed by others not too long after -- five killings the police feel sure Zodiac committed, although others have been attributed to him. But this film will not be a bloodbath. The killer does his work in the earlier scenes of the film, and then, when he starts sending encrypted letters to newspapers, the police and reporters try to do theirs.

The two lead inspectors on the case are David Toschi ( Mark Ruffalo ) and William Armstrong ( Anthony Edwards ). Toschi, famous at the time, tutored Steve McQueen for " Bullitt " and was the role model for Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry. Ruffalo plays him not as a hotshot but as a dogged officer who does things by the book because he believes in the book. Edwards' character, his partner, is more personally worn down by the sheer vicious nature of the killer and his taunts.

At the San Francisco Chronicle , although we meet several staffers, the key players are ace reporter Paul Avery ( Robert Downey Jr., bearded, chain-smoking, alcoholic) and editorial cartoonist Robert Graysmith ( Jake Gyllenhaal ). These characters are real, and indeed the film is based on Graysmith's books about the case.

I found the newspaper office intriguing in its accuracy. For one thing, it is usually fairly empty, and it was true on a morning paper in those days that the office began to heat up closer to deadline Among the few early arrivals would have been the cartoonist, who was expected to work up a few ideas for presentation at the daily news meeting, and the office alcoholics, perhaps up all night, or already starting their recovery drinking. Yes, reporters drank at their desks 40 years ago, and smoked and smoked and smoked.

Graysmith is new on the staff when the first cipher arrives. He's like the curious new kid in school fascinated by the secrets of the big boys. He doodles with a copy of the cipher, and we think he'll solve it, but he doesn't. He strays off his beat by eavesdropping on cops and reporters, making friends with the boozy Avery, and even talking his way into police evidence rooms. Long after the investigation has cooled, his obsession remains, eventually driving his wife ( Chloe Sevigny ) to move herself and their children in with her mom. Graysmith seems oblivious to the danger he may be drawing into his home, even after he appears on TV and starts hearing heavy breathing over the phone.

What makes "Zodiac" authentic is the way it avoids chases, shootouts, grandstanding and false climaxes, and just follows the methodical progress of police work. Just as Woodward and Bernstein knocked on many doors and made many phone calls and met many very odd people, so do the cops and Graysmith walk down strange pathways in their investigation. Because Graysmith is unarmed and civilian, we become genuinely worried about his naivete and risk-taking, especially during a trip to a basement that is, in its way, one of the best scenes I've ever seen along those lines.

Fincher gives us times, days and dates at the bottom of the screen, which serve only to underline how the case seems to stretch out to infinity. There is even time-lapse photography showing the Transamerica building going up. Everything leads up to a heart-stopping moment when two men look, simply look, at one another. It is a more satisfying conclusion than Dirty Harry shooting Zodiac dead, say, in a football stadium.

Fincher is not the first director you would associate with this material. In 1992, at 30, he directed "Alien 3," which was the least of the Alien movies, but even then had his eye ("Alien 3" is one of the best-looking bad movies I have ever seen). His credits include "Se7en" (1995), a superb film about another serial killer with a pattern to his crimes; " The Game " (1997), with Michael Douglas caught in an ego-smashing web; " Fight Club " (1999), beloved by most, not by me; the ingenious terror of Jodie Foster in " Panic Room " (2002), and now, five years between features, his most thoughtful, involving film.

He seems to be in reaction against the slice-and-dice style of modern crime movies; his composition and editing are more classical, and he doesn't use nine shots when one will do. (If this same material had been put through an Avid to chop the footage into five times as many shots, we would have been sending our own ciphers to the studio.) Fincher is an elegant stylist on top of everything else, and here he finds the right pace and style for a story about persistence in the face of evil. I am often fascinated by true crime books, partly because of the way they amass ominous details (the best I've read is Blood and Money , by Tommy Thompson ), and Fincher understands that true crime is not the same genre as crime action. That he makes every character a distinct individual is proof of that; consider the attention given to Graysmith's choice of mixed drink.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Sweet Dreams

Matt zoller seitz.

Kim's Video

Brian tallerico.

Turtles All the Way Down

Peyton robinson.

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg

Marya e. gates.

Evil Does Not Exist

Glenn kenny.

Film Credits

Zodiac (2007)

Rated R for graphic violence and drug abuse

157 minutes

Mark Ruffalo as David Toschi

Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery

John Carroll Lynch as Arthur Leigh Allen

Brian Cox as Melvin Belli

Philip Baker Hall as Sherwood Morrill

Chloe Sevigny as Melanie

Anthony Edwards as Armstrong

Charles Fleischer as Bob Vaughn

Zach Grenier as Mel Nicolai

Dermot Mulroney as Capt. Marty Lee

Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith

Elias Koteas as Sgt. Jack Mulanax

Directed by

• David Fincher
• James Vanderbilt

Based on the book by

• Robert Graysmith

Latest blog posts

Cannes 2024: The Girl with the Needle, Wild Diamond

Roger Corman's Greatest Legacy Was Giving So Many People Their Big Break

The Red Carpets of the 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival

Fated for All: Romanclusivity Captures Our Hearts in Bridgerton and Beyond

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review | 'Zodiac'

Hunting a Killer as the Age of Aquarius Dies

By Manohla Dargis

• March 2, 2007

David Fincher’s magnificently obsessive new film, “Zodiac,” tracks the story of the serial killer who left dead bodies up and down California in the 1960s and possibly the ’70s, and that of the men who tried to stop him. Set when the Age of Aquarius disappeared into the black hole of the Manson family murders, the film is at once sprawling and tightly constructed, opaque and meticulously detailed. It’s part police procedural, part monster movie, a funereal entertainment that is an unexpected repudiation of Mr. Fincher’s most famous movie, the serial-killer fiction “Seven,” as well as a testament to this cinematic savant’s gifts.

Informed by history and steeped in pulp fiction, “Zodiac” stars a trio of beauties — Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo — all at the top of their performance game and captured in out-of-sight high-definition digital by the cinematographer Harris Savides. Mr. Gyllenhaal is the sneaky star of the show as the real-life cartoonist turned writer Robert Graysmith, though he doesn’t emerge from the wings until fairly late, after the bodies and the investigations have cooled. A silky, seductive Mr. Downey plays Paul Avery, a showboating newspaper reporter who chased the killer in print, while Mr. Ruffalo struts his estimable stuff as Dave Toschi, the San Francisco police detective who taught Steve McQueen how to wear a gun in “Bullitt” and pursued Zodiac close to the ground.

The relative unknown James Vanderbilt wrote the jigsaw-puzzle screenplay, working from Mr. Graysmith’s exhaustive, exhausting true-crime accounts of the murders and their investigations, “Zodiac” and “Zodiac Unmasked.” Mr. Graysmith, coyly played by Mr. Gyllenhaal as something of an overgrown Hardy Boy, his great big eyes matched by his great big ambition, was a political cartoonist doodling Nixon noses at The San Francisco Chronicle when Zodiac started sending letters and ciphers to the paper, divulging intimate knowledge of the crimes. The first messages arrived in 1969, the year Zodiac shot one young couple and knifed another in separate Northern California counties before moving on to San Francisco, where he put a bullet in the head of a cabbie.

The first cipher stumped an alphabet soup of law enforcement agencies, including the C.I.A. and F.B.I., but was cracked by a California schoolteacher and his wife. The decoded cipher opened with an ominous and crudely effective flourish: “I like killing people because it is so much fun it is more fun than killing wild game in the forrest because man is the most dangeroue anamal.” The letters, the misspellings and the lax punctuation kept coming, and perhaps so did the murders, though only five were substantively linked to him. A publicity hound, Zodiac claimed responsibility for murders he might not have committed, a habit that added to a boogeyman mystery and myth that chroniclers of his crimes, including Mr. Graysmith, have exploited.

Mr. Fincher made his name with “Seven,” a thriller in which the grotesquely mutilated bodies of murder victims are nothing more than lovingly designed props. Although more than capable of adding to the exploitation annals, he is up to something profoundly different in this film, which opens with the shooting of two people parked on a lovers’ lane at night, an attack that is soon followed by a squirmingly visceral knife assault on a couple during a daytime idyll. By front-loading the violence, Mr. Fincher instantly makes it clear just what kind of murderer this was — one who liked to get his hands wet — and ensures that the murders don’t become the story’s payoff, our reward for all the time stamps, geographic shifts, narrative complication and frustrated action.

The story structure is as intricate as the storytelling is seamless, with multiple time-and-place interludes neatly slotted into two distinct sections. The first largely concerns the murders and the investigations; the second, far shorter one involves Graysmith’s transformation of the murders and the investigations into a narrative. With its nicotine browns, the first section, which opens in 1969 and continues through the mid-’70s, looks as if it had been art-directed by a roomful of chain smokers. Dark and moody, like all of Mr. Fincher’s work, this part has been drained of almost all bright colors, save for splashes of yellow, the color of safety and caution, and an alarming-looking blue elixir called an Aqua Velva that is Graysmith’s bar drink of choice.

The second, more vibrantly hued section begins with Graysmith sitting in the Chronicle newsroom, its yellow pillars now painted blue. He looks as bright and bushy-tailed as the day he read Zodiac’s first letter, though now he comes equipped with three kids and a wife (an unfortunately familiar scold whom Chloë Sevigny imbues with some welcome wit). But there are demons still loose, inside and out, which is why Graysmith takes on Zodiac alone, warming up the stone-cold case. Domestic tranquillity, it seems, can’t hold a candle to work, to the fanatical pursuit of meaning and self-discovery, to finding out what makes you and the world tick — which is why, while “Zodiac” contains multitudes (genres, jokes, nods at 1970s New Hollywood), it feels like Mr. Fincher’s most personal film to date.

Maybe that’s why it doesn’t have the usual movie-made shrink- rapping and beard-stroking, as in Mommy was a castrating shrew and Daddy used a two-by-four as a paddle. Throughout the film Mr. Fincher and company keep focus on Zodiac’s crimes, on the nuts and bolts of his deeds, rather than on the nurture and nature behind them. There is no normalizing psychology here, and no deep-dish symbolism either, maybe because the title crazy is so peculiarly fond of symbols, which he sprinkles in his missives and, for one murder, wears superhero style on a black-hooded costume that makes him look like a portly ninja in a Z-movie quickie. It’s no wonder the victims don’t see the threat behind the masquerade until it’s too late.

Psychology isn’t Mr. Fincher’s bag; he isn’t interested in what lies and writhes beneath, but what is right there: the visible evidence. And what beautiful evidence it is. His polished technique can leave you slack-jawed, as can his scrupulous attention to detail: the peeling walls of a derelict building in “Fight Club,” the rows of ant-size letters marching across the pages of a composition notebook in “Seven,” the bruises splashed across a woman’s arm in “Zodiac.” There is mystery in this minutiae, not just virtuosity, and maybe, to judge from reports of his painstaking process, a touch of madness. Like his detectives and journalists, Mr. Fincher seems possessed by the need to recreate reality — to revisit the scene of the crime — piece by piece.

There’s a moment early in the film when Mr. Downey stands in the Chronicle newsroom, back arched and rear gently hoisted, affecting a posture that calls to mind Gene Kelly done up as a Toulouse-Lautrec jockey in “An American in Paris.” Avery has already started his long slip-slide into boozy oblivion, abetted by toots of coke, but as he strides around the newsroom, motored by talent and self-regard, he is the guy everybody else wants to be or wants to have. Like Mr. Ruffalo’s detective, who leaves everything bobbing in his rapid wake, Mr. Downey fills the screen with life that, by its very nature, is a rebuke to the death drive embodied by the Zodiac killer. Rarely has a film with so much blood on its hands seemed so insistently alive.

“Zodiac” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It contains extremely graphic gun and knife violence, as well as alcohol abuse and cocaine use.

Opens today nationwide.

Directed by David Fincher; written by James Vanderbilt, based on the books “Zodiac” and “Zodiac Unmasked” by Robert Graysmith; director of photography, Harris Savides; edited by Angus Wall; music by David Shire; production designer, Donald Graham Burt; produced by Mr. Vanderbilt, Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Bradley J. Fischer and Cean Chaffin; released by Paramount Pictures. Running time: 158 minutes.

WITH: Jake Gyllenhaal (Robert Graysmith), Mark Ruffalo (Inspector Dave Toschi), Robert Downey Jr. (Paul Avery), Anthony Edwards (Inspector Bill Armstrong), Brian Cox (Melvin Belli), Elias Koteas (Sgt. Jack Mulanax) and Chloë Sevigny (Melanie).

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Link to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• The Last Stop in Yuma County Link to The Last Stop in Yuma County

New TV Tonight

• Interview With the Vampire: Season 2
• Spacey Unmasked: Season 1
• Outer Range: Season 2
• After the Flood: Season 1
• The Killing Kind: Season 1
• Bridgerton: Season 3
• The Big Cigar: Season 1
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Season 11.1
• Harry Wild: Season 3
• RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars: Season 9

Most Popular TV on RT

• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Doctor Who: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Blood of Zeus: Season 2
• The Veil: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Interview With the Vampire: Season 2 Link to Interview With the Vampire: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

300 Best Movies of All Time

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga First Reviews: Anya Taylor-Joy Fires Up the Screen in a Crowd-Pleasing Spectacle

• Trending on RT
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Last Stop in Yuma County
• TV Premiere Dates

Zodiac Reviews

James Vanderbilt's screenplay convinced me to research everything about the real events as soon as the movie finished which is undeniably an impactful effect of watching such a well-written, captivating narrative with well-developed, authentic characters.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Jul 24, 2023

have come to believe it to be Fincher’s all-time best; indeed it seems likely that it is the best film about serial killings ever made.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | May 11, 2023

Zodiac, ironically, rewards revisiting over and over, while commenting on the spiritual degradation of doing so.

Full Review | Oct 2, 2022

If you feel like watching a truly great film, then dim the lights, turn off the cellphone and tablet and kick back for Zodiac.

Full Review | Sep 22, 2022

Like a contagion that festers as easily as it spreads, David Fincher's methodical Zodiac is catching.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Feb 14, 2022

A satisfying hybrid of a journalism yarn, a police procedural, and a serial killer flick.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 16, 2021

More than any American movie of the past decade, Zodiac accepts and embraces irresolvability, which may be why it's so hypnotically rewatchable.

Full Review | Oct 4, 2021

Here and there bits bob to the surface, and we and the characters think we may have figured something out, only to have the sheer immensity of detail leave the entire thing ultimately unknowable

Full Review | Jul 2, 2021

A chiller, more fatalistic...

Full Review | Jun 5, 2021

Carve out three hours for this thinking-person's thriller.

Full Review | Feb 25, 2021

David Fincher isn't rubbing the horrors we inflict on each other in the audience's face. Here, it's something more subtle, the creeping fear of I know I'm right...but what do I do now?

Full Review | Dec 22, 2020

From the visual and technical standpoint - yes, it's fantastic. But art has always been about more than just technique, more than the sum of its parts, and that "more" is where Zodiac falls short.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 17, 2020

[Zodiac] has an interesting quality of subverting expectations, quietly stringing the viewer along until suddenly a decade's gone by and you're still trying to fit all the pieces together alongside the characters.

Full Review | Dec 8, 2020

A procedural masterwork, unencumbered by action, exploitation, or Hollywood expectations.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Nov 28, 2020

David Fincher takes his time with this frightening crime procedural, that's full of dread and excellent performances. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 5, 2020

Jake Gyllenhaal powerfully portrays Robert Graysmith, a mild-mannered political cartoonist whose life unravels as his paranoid quest to track down clues....

Full Review | May 22, 2020

Fincher presents plausible theories that are not rammed down our throats.

Full Review | May 21, 2020

Zodiac is a film that really takes its time, but does a masterful job of showing how these killings didn't just destroy the lives of the victims and their families, but how the case became a burden to almost everyone involved.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Nov 21, 2019

Zodiac is not just a masterclass in film-making and storytelling, it's proof that a horror movie does not have to be showy to be scary.

Full Review | Sep 25, 2019

The first half of the movie plays like a police procedural... It's a thrilling whirlwind of facts and dead ends and terrifying attacks that increasingly adds to the sense of helplessness with the case.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 6, 2019

Zodiac (2007): Film Review

• Jack Walters
• March 22, 2023

Zodiac is David Fincher’s take on the investigative thriller, an astute character study that’s driven forward by the dark truth of the killer’s crimes.

Unlike many procedural thrillers of its time, David Fincher’s Zodiac unlocks the secret of the genre by never relying too heavily on the facts to make this true story work. It’s a dramatic retelling of the truth – and that certainly doesn’t mean it’s inaccurate, because it sticks closely to the confirmed facts of the case, but the movie soars by making its characters and relationships just as interesting as the objective story. It’s not just a chronicle of the Zodiac Killer’s crimes, but rather an intense investigation into the obsession and drive that characterize humanity’s innate need to solve puzzles. It does this by focusing closely on the detectives, journalists, and even regular citizens who fought against the Zodiac and dedicated their time to bringing him down.

David Fincher developed a strong name for himself over the years as a master of the thriller genre, filling his movies with complex narratives and gripping sequences that keep the audience invested from start to finish. Zodiac is no different, as Fincher uses his directorial talent to reconstruct the killer’s crimes with immense detail and flair, forcing the audience to come face-to-face with the specific horrors of this infamous case. Despite spending plenty of time away from the crimes and focusing on the investigation, Zodiac manages to uphold this dark intensity throughout its lengthy runtime. 

There are admittedly some moments (specifically in the second act) when Zodiac ’s pacing and momentum begin to fumble, but Fincher always knows how to rectify these cracks in the script by forging even more exciting set pieces and offering the audience small clues to regain their attention and intrigue. But even when Zodiac falters in these moments, the film’s talented ensemble is always captivating enough to keep things moving. Jake Gyllenhaal is undeniably the standout as cartoonist Robert Graysmith, whose obsession with puzzles and riddles keeps drawing him back to the Zodiac Killer’s elusive clues. He perfectly captures Graysmith’s inner conflict, as his growing interest in the case forces him to question just how much he’s willing to lose in pursuit of the truth.

Both Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo give impressive performances as journalist Paul Avery and detective Dave Toschi respectively. Fincher has always been a director who knows how to draw powerful performances from his actors, and Zodiac ’s ensemble is among the director’s most consistent to date. More than just a story of crime and punishment, Zodiac is a cautionary tale of what happens when people get too involved and obsessed with the seductively dark corners of the world. Each character experiences and suffers from this compulsion in various different ways, and that gives each individual a very distinct and important purpose within the story.

It’s impossible to discuss a David Fincher project without commenting on the visual and technical prowess – but these are areas where Zodiac doesn’t get nearly enough credit. Not only are the cinematography and lighting just as alluring and noteworthy as you’d expect from a Fincher movie, but the camera movements and precise framing are also excellent. He really makes the most of every single scene, ensuring to place the camera in the most interesting and engaging positions for each moment. It’s this level of craft that elevates Zodiac high above its competition, proving that even the most objective and fact-based narratives can be made thrilling by a little creativity.

Though it’s hardly ignored by most audiences, Zodiac remains the most underappreciated project of David Fincher’s career. While the director is most notable for works such as Se7en or Fight Club , there’s a level of consistency and authenticity to Zodiac that most fans often forget to appreciate. It’s admittedly easy to overlook the project—parts of the script feel pretty uneven, and the fact-based narrative definitely isn’t as original as Fincher’s other works—but it’s a technical feat that’s filled with outstanding performances and beautiful shots from start to finish. Zodiac is the dark horse of David Fincher’s filmography, a near-masterpiece hiding in the shadows of several flashier, more stylish stories.

Zodiac is now available to watch on digital and on demand. Watch Zodiac !

• TAGS: David Fincher
• Cannes Film Festival , Film Festivals , Films

Locust Film Review: Silence is a Means of Survival

• Serena Seghedoni
• May 16, 2024

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 (Netflix) Review

• Clotilde Chinnici

IF Film Review: Creativity Rules, Even If It’s Messy

• Edgar Ortega
• Cannes Film Festival , Film Festivals , Films , Must Watch

When the Light Breaks review: Poignantly reflective

• Claire Fulton
• May 15, 2024

Under the Bridge Episode 6 Recap & Review 

• Keeley Brooks

Simon of the Mountain Review: A Tricksy Charmer

• Philip Bagnall

LATEST POSTS

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Common sense media reviewers.

Notorious case inspires dark, sinuous thriller.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Serial killer is cruel and plainly deranged; cops

Extremely bloody crime scenes; violence includes s

Suggestion of sexual desire as first victims &quot

Repeated profanity, especially "f--k," a

Some references by name (Folgers, the movie Bullit

Drinking to drunkenness in bars (Paul and Robert f

Parents need to know that this three-hour movie about the investigation into a string of real-life serial murders during the early 1970s is too violent and disturbing for most teens (and probably even some adults). While some violence takes place off screen, what does appear is brutal and bloody: The Zodiac shoots a…

Positive Messages

Serial killer is cruel and plainly deranged; cops and reporters argue amongst themselves and become obsessed with the case to the point of ruining their home lives. Paul gives his editor the finger.

Violence & Scariness

Extremely bloody crime scenes; violence includes shooting, stabbing (especially brutal), fighting; much discussion of means of murder, ammunition, and gun types; letters from killer describe plans to kill children on school buses (a boy hears this on TV and looks worried); mention of gas chamber; woman in prison appears with dark bruises on her arm; scary scene in basement when Robert thinks he's met the killer by accident (jump shot, dark shadows, tense music); discussion of a suspect's deviant history ("touching kids").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Suggestion of sexual desire as first victims "park" (they're shot before they even kiss); Paul reports that the killer is a "latent homosexual."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Repeated profanity, especially "f--k," as well as "s--t," "hell," "goddamn it," and other colorful language ("Sweet mother of Christ," "Jesus on crutches," "Tell him to screw," "crap," "getting your rocks off with a girl") and name-calling ("shorty" and "retard").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Some references by name (Folgers, the movie Bullitt ), plus background imagery (Coca-Cola and Campbell's soup in vending machines, Slinky on TV); Dirty Harry on movie screen.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drinking to drunkenness in bars (Paul and Robert favor blue drinks called "Aqua Velvas"); more drinking at Belli's Christmas party (he offers a "toddy"); frequent cigarette smoking; Paul looks high/wasted at work -- he snorts cocaine and keeps a full bar and other drugs in his home.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this three-hour movie about the investigation into a string of real-life serial murders during the early 1970s is too violent and disturbing for most teens (and probably even some adults). While some violence takes place off screen, what does appear is brutal and bloody: The Zodiac shoots a couple in their car, stabs another couple in the back (the victims' pained, horrified faces are shown both times), and shoots a cabbie. Police officers and reporters discuss the deaths in some detail. Characters drink heavily and smoke frequently (one also uses hard drugs). References are made to the killer's "latent homosexuality" and a suspect's pedophilia. Language includes repeated uses of "f--k." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (20)
• Kids say (30)

Based on 20 parent reviews

What's the Story?

An intelligent, sinuous mystery, ZODIAC is less interested in sensational violence than in the ways that the media affects such violence. Based on the notorious, still-unsolved early-1970s Zodiac murders in the San Francisco area, the movie focuses first on efforts to figure out the murderer's motives and then on the ways that the Zodiac "imagined" himself into public consciousness by writing letters to the San Francisco Chronicle and leaving clues to taunt the police. The film begins with a murder -- the first one for which the killer took public credit. After the shooting, Zodiac calls the police and sends a letter to the Chronicle , demonstrating -- in his mind, anyway -- that he's smarter than all of them. As he uses the media to "make himself up," the movie considers the effects of the case on those who pursue him, including Inspector David Toschi ( Mark Ruffalo ) and his partner, Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards); as well as earnest cartoonist Robert Graysmith ( Jake Gyllenhaal ) and brilliantly self-destructive crime reporter Paul Avery ( Robert Downey Jr. ). They run into problems at every turn, from law enforcement officials in different jurisdictions who don't want to work together to handwriting experts, fingerprinters, and even celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli ( Brian Cox ). With egos getting in the way, only rudimentary technologies to work with, and legal impediments, no one cracks the case, and everyone loses themselves to it.

Is It Any Good?

David Fincher 's excellent movie includes several violent murder scenes (a stabbing is especially grisly). But it's more interested in the consequences of the brutality: crime scenes, investigative procedures, fear in the community. In a mess of intersecting obsessions and deceptions, Zodiac finds remarkable coherence, tracing the similar needs, means, and fictions that structure truth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the media's relationship with serial killers. How do the killers use the media to gain attention? How do the media use the killers to gain ratings? How do viewers and readers respond to such coverage? Think about how movies portray killers and their pursuers: Unlike The Silence of the Lambs , this movie focuses on the investigation, with very little information about the killer. How does that affect the film's narrative and displays of violence? Is violence more effective when it's shown, or when it's implied? Why?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 1, 2007
• On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2007
• Cast : Chloe Sevigny , Jake Gyllenhaal , Mark Ruffalo
• Director : David Fincher
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Warner Bros.
• Genre : Thriller
• Run time : 165 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images.
• Last updated : April 14, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Silence of the Lambs

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Cinephile Corner

Movie Reviews, Rankings, Film News and More

Home » Movie Reviews » Zodiac Movie Review: David Fincher’s Decade-Defining Masterpiece from the 2000s Remains a Classic

Zodiac Movie Review: David Fincher’s Decade-Defining Masterpiece from the 2000s Remains a Classic

Zodiac is directed by david fincher and stars jake gyllenhaal, robert downey jr. and mark ruffalo.

David Fincher’s Zodiac remains an undeniable classic since its 2007 release, standing as a pivotal moment in the director’s historic career. In this crime drama, Fincher navigates the web of the Zodiac killer’s decade-spanning reign of terror, creating an atmospheric and compelling story that has only grown in cultural significance and critical acclaim over the years.

Zodiac stood out not only as David Fincher’s best film at the time of its release but also as a precursor to the high-quality content and thematic depth he would explore in subsequent releases. The film showcases Fincher’s notoriously meticulous attention to detail, combining true-to-life sets with digital effects to recreate the San Francisco Bay Area with unparalleled precision. This commitment to authenticity serves as a foundation for the narrative to unfold naturally and realistically.

The ensemble cast, led by Jake Gyllenhaal , Robert Downey Jr. , and Mark Ruffalo , delivers outstanding performances that help elevate Zodiac to another level. Gyllenhaal, in particular, takes center stage as Robert Graysmith, the cartoonist consumed by an obsessive quest to unmask the Zodiac killer. The film weaves in and out of the lives of its protagonists, spanning the years from the rise of the Zodiac killer to Graysmith’s meticulous and thorough documentation of the case.

But what sets Zodiac apart from other serial killer movies is its clinical approach to various other genres. It seamlessly transitions between being a taut, thrilling thriller, an obsessive procedural, a poignant portrayal of time passing, and, even in fleeting moments, a haunting horror movie. The film’s runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes may seem daunting on paper, but David Fincher’s slick and stylish design , coupled with the cast’s delivery of an incredible script, creates a movie that captivates and mesmerizes, making time seemingly fly by.

Fincher’s ability to merge practical and computer-generated effects is on full display, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience. The film’s design is not just a backdrop; it earns the cliché that it’s a character in itself, playing a crucial role in moving the plot along. This detailed, sparse world mirrors the complexity of the case and its enduring impact on those involved.

As the film explores the lives of its characters, each actor shines in different ways. Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of Graysmith’s obsessive pursuit is remarkably captivating and on brand, while Robert Downey Jr.’s character undergoes a transformation, descending into paranoia and addiction. Mark Ruffalo, playing the tormented cop unable to break the case, provides a nuanced performance that adds depth to the film’s exploration of the toll a case like this takes on those involved.

Reviews for Movies like Zodiac (2007)

Zodiac not only serves as a masterclass in procedural crime thrillers but also holds its ground among other classics in the genre. It seamlessly fits into the realm of films like Memories of Murder , Silence of the Lambs , and even Fincher’s own later works like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . The film’s enduring relevance is a testament to its status as a certified classic and a landmark of 21st-century cinema.

Despite its critical acclaim, Zodiac did not receive the widespread recognition it deserved during awards season, overshadowed by other bleak films like There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men . However, its impact has only grown over the years, becoming a favorite for many and solidifying its place as my favorite movie of 2007, a year often regarded as one of the best this century.

Zodiac is a timeless masterpiece that transcends the crime drama genre. David Fincher’s direction, coupled with outstanding performances from the cast, creates an immersive experience that lingers in the minds of viewers. Its intricate narrative, incredible attention to detail, and thematic depth make it not just a film of its time but a work of art that continues to find new audiences time and time again, solidifying its place as one of the greatest movies of the 21st century.

Genre: Crime , Drama , Mystery , Thriller

Watch Zodiac on Showtime and VOD

Join our newsletter

Zodiac Film Cast and Credits

Jake Gyllenaal as Robert Graysmith

Mark Ruffalo as David Toschi

Robert Downey Jr. as Paul Avery

Anthony Edwards as William Armstrong

Brian Cox as Melvin Belli

Charles Fleischer as Bob Vaughn

Zach Grenier as Mel Nicolai

Philip Baker Hall as Sherwood Morrill

Elias Koteas as Jack Mulanax

John Carroll Lynch as Arthur Leigh Allen

Dermot Mulroney as Martin Lee

Chloë Sevigny as Melanie

Director: David Fincher

Writer: James Vanderbilt

Cinematography: Harris Savides

Editor: Angus Wall

Composer: David Shire

New Classic Movie Reviews from Cinephile Corner

• The Exorcist Review: William Friedkin Redefines Horror with 1973 Classic Possession Movie
• Grand Illusion Movie Review: A Prescient Anti-war Film in the Canon of Cinema
• WALL-E Movie Review: A Pixar Magnum Opus in Visual Storytelling
• Ratatouille Movie Review: Brad Bird Directs the Most Unique and Beautiful Pixar Film Imaginable

Movie Reviews

New Movies Classics Best New Movies All Reviews

About Us Newsletter Sign Up

Lists and Rankings

Director Rankings Best Movies of 2023 Best Movies of 2022 Best Movies of 2021 All Lists

Latest News Essays

Movie Genres

Action Adventure Animation Comedy Crime Documentary Drama Family History Holiday

Genres (cont.)

Horror Musical Mystery Romance Sci-Fi Sports Superhero Thriller War Western

Copyright © 2024 Cinephile Corner

Design by ThemesDNA.com

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

Just the facts: two homicide detectives, a crime eporter and a political cartoonist spend decades knocking themselves out to atch a serial killer who never (officially) gets caught. Careers, arriages, even sanity fall victim to obsession. That’s Zodiac , a eticulous, mind-bending, nonstop mesmerizer of a movie that needed another ie-hard fanatic to make it pop onscreen.

And who better for the job than he brilliant, driven David Fincher, a director known to put his actors hrough more than 100 takes to get the nuances he wants. He raised the ar on kinky freaks in Se7en , plumbed the roots of trickery in The Game , tracked delusion to its core in Fight Club and used a prowling camera o dig out psychological truth in Panic Room . Zodiac , the name of the sycho who ted terrorizing the San Francisco Bay Area in 1968 and ormented the press with coded messages, is right up the director’s dark lley. Fincher was seven and living in the kill zone when his dad told im that the Zodiac had threatened to shoot kids like him as they tepped off their school bus.

It’s a wonder Fincher wasn’t traumatized by his nut job, who inspired the fictional killer Scorpio in Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry . Primal fear is hard to explain away, but the characters n Fincher’s film try to do just that by cutting a monster down to uman size. At the head of the list is cartoonist Robert Graysmith, played by Jake Gyllenhaal with just the right blend of smarts and geek-boy ixation. Graysmith, a shy newbie at The San Francisco Chronicle , is ripped by the first letter, which begins, “This is the Zodiac speaking.” or more details, he hounds the paper’s ace crime reporter, Paul Avery the reliably amazing Robert Downey Jr.), who in turn hounds the SFPD’s otshot homicide inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and his partner, illiam Armstrong (Anthony Edwards). The contentious bond among these en will stretch into years, even when Armstrong drops out and no arrests re made. It’s Graysmith who will later write the two books, Zodiac and Zodiac Unmasked , that serve as the film’s source material, bolstered by resh investigations launched by Fincher and screenwriter James anderbilt.

Editor’s picks

Every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history.

That’s a lot of dogs to be gnawing on one bone. But make no istake, you will be hooked and creeped out big time. Fincher stages the irst murder with blood-chilling intensity. A hooded killer walks up to a ar parked on a lovers’ lane and opens fire on a teen couple (he urvives, she doesn’t). It could be the stuff of a typical CSI episode — iolent porn sandwiched between commercials. But Fincher transcends xploitation. We feel the swiftness of the crime, the shock of what follows nd the reeling sense of life snuffed out in seconds.

Later, in one of he most realistic and wrenching depictions of murder in broad daylight, he Zodiac stalks a couple picnicking by a lake in Napa. Their serenity s interrupted when the Zodiac is suddenly on them with a knife, tabbing them repeatedly. Fincher lingers on the aftermath, of being left, rying for help, to bleed to death. These sequences, including the xecution of a cab driver on a suburban street, are paralyzing in their rutal immediacy. They need to be. It’s the human toll taken by the Zodiac, ho sparked copycat crimes across the country, that drives the rotagonists to keep hammering at this cold case even when the killings stop nd media interest wanes.

Fincher never sensationalizes these images. For he first time in his career, he’s dealing with real people and ranting them a respect denied by tabloids and Zodiac’s attempts to hype imself into a media headline. He achieves a near-documentary realism nhanced by high-definition camerawork from the gifted Harris Savides Elephant, Gerry ) that brings a gritty urgency to everything from the offices f cops and reporters to the streets where the crimes were actually ommitted. The film calls to mind two 1970s classics, Francis Coppola’s The Conversation and Alan Pakula’s All the President’s Men , in its vocation of time and place, with added resonance from the striking music by avid Shire, who scored both of those films. Fincher’s shrewd use of ongs to bridge time finds a nerve-jangling menace in Donovan’s “Hurdy urdy Man” with its intimations of “unenlightened shadows cast.”

Chiefs Kicker Spreads Antisemitic Lies In Benedictine College Graduation Speech

Donna summer's estate reaches settlement with kanye west over alleged 'theft' of 'i feel love', 2024 acm awards: the complete winners list, milo yiannopoulos parts ways with kanye west over yeezy porn plan.

Still, t’s the people in those shadows who draw you in. Gyllenhaal pulls us nexorably into a mind-set that ultimately wrecks Graysmith’s marriage to elanie (Chloe Sevigny). And Ruffalo is outstanding at showing us a attered Toschi — once enough of a supercop to be the model for Steve McQueen in Bullitt and Michael Douglas on TV’s The Streets of San rancisco — demoted out of homicide but still willing to assist Graysmith on is quest. The most dramatic decline is experienced by Avery, whose ddiction to the case is trumped by his self-destructive jones for booze nd cocaine. Downey gives a blazing performance that runs the gamut from umor to heartbreak. All the actors excel. Brian Cox is sharply funny s celeb lawyer Melvin Belli, and John Carroll Lynch will haunt your ightmares as Arthur Leigh Allen, the suspect the cops dismiss and raysmith comes to focus on.

Biden Appointee Becomes First Jewish Staffer to Resign Over Gaza

Rfk jr. claims biden and trump 'colluding' to block him from debates.

Put your whodunit expectations away when you isit Zodiac . It’s the process that pins you to your seat. A film this ainstaking and tenacious won’t appeal to those in it strictly for the lood lust. Fincher is a powerhouse filmmaker, but he doesn’t pander. He hakes you up in ways you don’t see coming. Thanks to him, the still-new ovie year, littered with barf-inducing Hollywood formula (hello, Norbit ), has busted out with something unique and unmissable.

Travis Kelce Was 'Shocked' Ryan Murphy Gave Him Role in ‘Grotesquerie’

• By Emily Zemler

'Happy Gilmore' Sequel in the Works From Adam Sandler

• happy place
• By Daniel Kreps

'Furiosa' Isn't Just a Prequel to 'Fury Road' — It's a Perfect Origin-Story Saga

• CANNES MOVIE REVIEW
• By David Fear

'Wicked' Trailer: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Trade Insults, Invent Evil

• Which Witch Is Which
• By Kory Grow

'Dune: Prophecy' Trailer Explores Origins of Shadowy Bene Gesserit

• sisterhood above all

Most Popular

'mad max' director says 'there's no excuse' for tom hardy and charlize theron's 'fury road' set feud: tom 'had to be coaxed out of his trailer', sam rubin, longtime ktla entertainment reporter and anchor, dies at 64, near the giza pyramids, archaeologists identify a newly discovered ancient egyptian structure, melania trump confirms her son barron just made a total 180 once again with his future, you might also like, how ‘gazer,’ a self-financed thriller from amateur filmmakers, made it into this year’s directors’ fortnight, brittany mahomes celebrates sports illustrated swimsuit debut, models bikinis, bow-embellished styles and more: ‘what an absolute dream’, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, ‘kinds of kindness’ and ‘poor things’ producers see hope for film resurgence, nfl schedule release: the super bowl for ticket sales, social media.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

T hree conditions are necessary for a serial killer to function: there must be a minimum of three killings, similar in execution, but separated in time and space, a properly organised police force to investigate them, and popular media to spread the news and comment on the events. This makes Jack the Ripper the first celebrated example and Fritz Lang's first sound movie, M of 1931, the first film on the phenomenon.

The actual term wasn't coined until the 1970s in the wake of numerous such series of killings, the most extraordinary of which are those committed in California in the late 1960s and early Seventies by a grimly ludic murderer and which are the subject of David Fincher's spellbinding film Zodiac. Fincher's fascination with urban paranoia and dangerous games make him the perfect man for the job; he is the director of one of the most noir of all serial-killer films, Se7en. From Peter Lorre in M through Tony Curtis's Albert DeSalvo in The Boston Strangler and Richard Attenborough's Reginald Christie in 10 Rillington Place to Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter, the chief roles in such pictures have been the killers.

In this case, however, the murderer who styled himself Zodiac was never brought to justice and the film is concerned with the men who pursued him and the effect that this day-to-day involvement over several years had on their lives. James Vanderbilt's lucid screenplay is based on a book by one of them, Robert Graysmith, who was involved from day one.

The film opens in July 1969 with a cold-blooded attack on a young couple parked in a lovers' lane outside Vallejo, a small town north of San Francisco. The man is badly wounded, the woman killed. Immediately thereafter, a letter arrives at the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle from a man claiming to be not only the murderer but also the perpetrator of a similar killing the previous year. He encloses a coded message that he insists must be published or further killings will follow. Similar demands are made to two other papers. From that point on, the movie follows two parallel courses - a police-procedural thriller and a newspaper movie in the style of All the President's Men. Further murders and attempted murders follow, all grippingly staged: a couple picnicking in the Napa Valley is bound and stabbed, a taxi driver in downtown San Francisco is shot dead, a woman driving at night with her baby on a country road narrowly escapes.

Two San Francisco homicide inspectors are assigned to the case: the calm, quietly dressed family man William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) and the cocky, flamboyant Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), who was the model for celluloid cops played by Steve McQueen (Bullitt), Michael Douglas (Streets of San Francisco) and Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry).

Meanwhile at the Chronicle, the paper's louche star crime reporter, Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr) and its newly arrived editorial cartoonist, the quiet, intense Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), develop an uneasy alliance that anticipates that between Woodward and Bernstein a few years later as they become increasingly obsessed with the case. The lives and livelihoods of the journalists and of the cops are put at risk as Zodiac menaces them and their families. Only Armstrong manages to escape more or less unscathed. What is it that motivates these men, turns them into victims of a quarry who taunts and stalks them? Is it a matter of doing their job and serving the public? Is it a search for fame? Or is it something deeper, an attempt to solve an elusive riddle, to understanding the dark side of society and humanity?

If the Zodiac case led to Dirty Harry (a movie the cops hold in contempt for its reckless vigilantism), an important clue to the murderer's warped thinking arises early on when the first coded message refers to 'the most dangerous game'. The sharp-witted, problem-solving Graysmith identifies this as a reference to the classic 1932 movie of that title in which a mad, rich recluse lures people to his remote island to be hunted for sport. How and why Zodiac became interested in this movie, and where he saw it, becomes part of an immense jigsaw puzzle that the journalists are trying to put together. The task is made doubly difficult by jurisdictional disputes that lead to four police forces withholding evidence from each other, by false leads provided by impostors and Zodiac's own disinformation.

In two of the most fascinating sequences, serious suspects are up against the wall. In the first of them, the police conduct an interrogation of the man now widely regarded as the killer (brilliantly played by John Carroll Lynch, best known for his role as the female cop's husband in the Coens' Fargo), and come tantalisingly near to clinching their case. In the other, which takes place years later, Graysmith goes alone one night to interrogate an informant and ends up fleeing for his life. There's also a remarkable scene in which the celebrated San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli (Brian Cox) appears on TV to take a phone call from Zodiac.

This is an intelligent, persuasively acted, superbly photographed film, with a subtle score by David Shire, who was chosen because Fincher admired his work on The Conversation and All the President's Men. As a child, Fincher lived in the area where most of the Zodiac crimes occurred, but there's nothing nostalgic about this movie. It doesn't overdo the period detail and doesn't mention Vietnam. Nevertheless, the absence of mobile phones, fax machines and computers makes it seem like a distant other time.

• Robert Downey Jr

Most viewed

• Become a Critical Movie Critic
• Movie Review Archives

Movie Review: Zodiac (2007)

• Nashtradomus
• Movie Reviews
• No responses
• --> March 6, 2007

I was fortunate enough to get couple of tickets to go watch Zodiac on a Saturday night. I saw the trailer of this movie a few months ago and was very excited to see this one because of the director and the cast. Well it seemed that all that build up was for nothing, I was disappointed and it got to a point where I started to wonder when would the frakkin'(paraphrase from “Battlestar Galactica”) movie end. I would imagine David Fincher, who created “Seven,” “Fight Club” and “Panic Room” did not leave out any details from the book in this extremely long snorefest.

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Zodiac is based on Northern Cal cold-case murders committed by the infamous man who declared himself to be the Zodiac killer. Although the story begins with and develops around the gruesome violence of such a murderer, it transforms into a tale of misfortune in the lives of those who chased him. The cast was very impressive, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a modest and a shy newspaper cartoonist who is fascinated and then turns into his obsession with the Zodiac killer’s codes and letters. David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), a savvy and dedicated SF detective who gets to be assigned to the Zodiac case and finally Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), a reporter who works along with Jake G., driven over the Zodiac killer and a substance abuse addict.

The way this movie begins, with the brutal slayings of few couples are intense and very grabbing. Similarly, there is a scene with a woman and her baby in the car would surely get your nerves up. However, that is pretty much it. The rest of the movie is not about the killer, but about the police investigation surrounding the killings and the misfortunes associated along with the people chasing the killer. With 160 minutes, that’s a lot of dragging on. The only reason I was seated and did not walk out was my curiosity to know who the killer was.

Although, it was roughly 160 minutes long, the characters were never fully developed. Even Gyllenhaal’s character is a muddled mystery at the end of the movie. The movie keeps hopping in different planes — it gets interesting at certain points and then hops into completely something else. The characters never seem to age even over a 25 year period. Gyllenhaal was driving the same car all throughout the movie and it only got better as the movie went on. This here is not to say everything about the film is bad, but at the end of it, it gives you this empty feeling about the whole proceedings. The acting on the whole is very good, Mark Ruffalo as this intense cop with his quips, Jake does a great job of straddling his lines between a lovable annoyance and a OCD maniac. Finally, Robert Downey Jr. as this misguided reporter who works with Gyllenhaal with a serious abuse problem, this might not be too hard to play and relate to his real life scenario, but he does a great job in doing so.

Overall, however, Zodiac is not a bad movie if you have time to spend and the evening to yourself with nothing else to do.

Tagged: investigation , murder , novel adaptation , true story

Writing movie reviews is beneath me. I do it now and again to remember what it is like to feel like a commoner.

Movie Review: Wanted (2008) Movie Review: Vantage Point (2008) Movie Review: Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) Movie Review: The Brave One (2007) Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Movie Review: Transformers (2007) Movie Review: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

'Movie Review: Zodiac (2007)' has no comments

Privacy Policy | About Us

 |  Log in

Paramount Pictures

It was like I was seeing a ghost.

The Rhythm Section

I need your help to find the ones who did this. I’ve got nothing to lose.

Playing With Fire

No shenanigans under my watch.

Like A Boss

We are two badass queens like those bitches who raised Wonder Woman.

I could hear the whole tune in my head. It was all there.

Based on the true story of the notorious serial killer and the intense manhunt he inspired, Zodiac is a superbly crafted thriller form the director of Se7en and Panic Room. Featuring an outstanding ensemble cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Chloë Sevigny, Zodiac is a searing and singularly haunting examination of twin obsessions: one man's desire to kill and another's quest for the truth.

Cast + Crew

• Mark Ruffalo
• Jake Gyllenhaal
• Robert Downey Jr.
• Anthony Edwards
• Charles Fleischer
• Zach Grenier
• Philip Baker Hall
• Elias Koteas
• Donal Logue
• John Carroll Lynch
• Dermot Mulroney
• Ed Setrakian
• Chloë Sevigny
• Candy Clark
• Adam Goldberg
• James LeGros
• Bob Stephenson
• Jason Wiles
• Joel Bissonnette
• Richmond Arquette
• Barrry Livingston
• David Fincher Director

WhichFilm | Film Reviews | Audience Film Reviews

Create your own review

I love a murder mystery movie and this one is one of the best that I have ever seen. This movie is spectacularly made, it is so detailed oriented that I don’t want to think that there is another mystery movie that the director made sure the characters focused on the case instead of the killer like it was the case here. This movie is so full of suspense that you would find it hard to even move from the position that you are sitting as soon as the actions begins to get interesting. If you are one to dread movies easily, well get ready for some dreadful moments, but I guarantee you would enjoy this solid dialogue-driven movie.

Have you seen these?

• Kindle Store
• Kindle eBooks
• Science Fiction & Fantasy

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $21.83 $21.83

Save: $14.34 $14.34 (66%)

Buy for others

Buying and sending ebooks to others.

• Select quantity
• Buy and send eBooks
• Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Follow the authors

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Zodiac Academy 8.5: Beyond The Veil Kindle Edition

• Book 9 of 12 Zodiac Academy
• Print length 416 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publication date June 30, 2023
• File size 2780 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details
• Next 4 for you in this series $34.76
• All 12 for you in this series $110.28

• In This Series
• By Caroline Peckham
• Customers Also Enjoyed
• Fantasy Romance

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C81PLF8Q
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dark Ink Publishing (June 30, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 30, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2780 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
• #15 in Paranormal Fantasy (Kindle Store)
• #53 in Paranormal & Urban Fantasy (Books)
• #80 in Romantic Fantasy (Kindle Store)

About the authors

Susanne valenti.

I'm Susanne Valenti and I co-write books with my sister Caroline Peckham. We love dark romance and characters who will break your heart, stomp on it and laugh over the pieces before putting them all back together in the end. Come join our reader group>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1969723189953113 where you can call us out for our terrible behaviour or just bond with like minded readers and find out first about all of our upcoming projects 💖

Caroline Peckham

I'm an author of all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!

Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.

Join here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1969723189953113

Sign up to our newsletter here >>

https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/l6g4v3

For all inquiries including Film/TV rights please contact>>

[email protected]

For more information check out my website here >>

https://carolinepeckham.com/

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

Report an issue

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

The Jenny Position Episode 156- Talk'n Docs: Zodiac Killer

• Podcast Episode

Add a plot in your language

User reviews

• May 15, 2024 (United States)
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed