Spikeopath The Zodiac is directed by Alexander Bulkley who also co-writes the screenplay with his brother Kelley Bulkley. It stars Justin Chambers, Robin Tunney, Rory Culkin, Philip Baker Hall, Brad Henke, Marty Lindsey, Rex Linn and William Mapother. Music is by Michael Suby and cinematography by Denis Maloney. Story is based on the true events involving a serial killer known as The Zodiac who terrorised the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s. He was never captured. There's a lot of scorn poured on Bulkley's movie, which on the surface is understandable given that it's neither an in-depth examination of the actual case or a terrifying serial killer thriller. It's cause isn't helped, either, by David Fincher's meticulous version that followed in 2007. Yet there's value in The Zodiac, even if it's difficult to recommend with confidence. The Bulkley's choose to focus primarily on one policeman and his family and how they are deeply affected by The Zodiac case. This involves Detective Matt Parish (Chambers) coming under increasing pressure at work, where his superiors are demanding a result, and at home, where his wife Laura (Tunney) grows frantic/frustrated by the day and his young son Johnny (Culkin) becomes unhealthily fascinated by the case. The director paints a very good period backdrop whilst deftly filling the narrative with a sense of paranoia that surely enveloped the Bay Area as The Zodiac enacted his crimes. The killer's face is rightly never seen, though we get POV shots from the killer and glimpses from afar or from behind him. While interestingly there's a link between The Zodiac and young Johnny as each go about their respective ways. The colour schemes used at various points of the story are well thought out, providing the film with a documentary feel for the exteriors and a saturated neo-noir universe for interiors. There's a spareness to the production that really aids the subject matter. Cast performances are fine, with Tunney really getting to grips with her character, and Suby's score rumbles along ominously. Not to be sought out by blood hounds or Zodiac historians, this is still a better than average picture that holds some interest as it rises above its modest budget limitations. 6/10

Coventry With already a handful of films on the topic since the year 2000, including a big blockbuster production directed by David Fincher and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the Zodiac killer suddenly and undeservedly grew out to become one of the most popular real-life serial killers to revolve horror/thriller movies on. I say undeservedly, because the actual facts in the case really weren't that fascinating or world shocking. Okay, obviously, every serial killer case is serious and disturbing but throughout history there honestly were serial killer cases that form much more compelling movie material. The Zodiac Killer story is mainly legendary because the crimes were never solved and because the whole thing escalated into a giant media circus, but strictly speaking the killer didn't make that many victims and his modus operandi wasn't that unusual. Just because the killer was never apprehended and the authorities never fully discovered the whole truth behind his personality and motivations, Hollywood scriptwriters have fewer sources to base their movies on. So in addition to all the letters that were sent to newspaper offices and the forensic reports of the confirmed victims, the films inevitable contain a lot of assumptions and fictional sub plots. In "The Zodiac", for example, there's a sequence in which the killer (filmed from over his shoulder) observes a waitress in a coffee bar and slowly follows the teenage son of the police detective in charge of the investigation down a street in his car. These are sequences that undeniably increase the suspense, but clearly they can never lead anywhere otherwise the portrayal of the facts aren't completely accurate anymore. Even more than in other 'based on true story' movies, you know exactly how each and every single movie about the Zodiac Killer will end: with a written epilogue message stating that the killer is still at large or, in the meantime, died a free man. Of course it doesn't necessarily mean that "The Zodiac", in spite of its unsurpassable restrictions and tendency towards boredom, is a bad or even passable film. Quite the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised about how stylish and anti-sensational this movie is. Director Alexander Bulkley remains focused on the "good" characters and how the vile acts of the serial killer slowly drifts them apart and drives them crazy. The story closely follows the obsessive investigation of the ambitious young inspector Matt Parish and how the lack of progress negatively affects his relationship with his wife and teenage son. Whilst Parish desperately examines dead leads, the Zodiac killer cheerfully sends long letters to the San Francisco Chronicles to reveal details and clues about the murders that only he could know. It's all very interesting and adequately made, but in the end, you watched and listened to 90 minutes of content that informed you about nothing at all… And you already knew that beforehand, too!

dededexter I spent 90 minutes watching this movie only to be disappointed. The beginning held so much promise. The opening scene starting with the first recorded Zodiac murder and then following up with the introduction of the characters, all well done. But thats when the movie takes a turn for me. The lead policeman is not engaging at all. When he become obsessed with catching the killer, resorting to smoking, drinking and bad temper, you do not feel for him. I felt that he was a jerk not considering his family during this time.There are hints that the son connects with the killer - like a profiler, as he seems to collect everything he can on the crimes including breaking into his fathers office, but this not explored. The policeofficer's wife and son are going to leave him, them nothing happens, it was like it didn't happen and they were all back together again. The ending of this film is what is the most disappointing. Ending with the Zodiac threat to kill school children on the bus and the police tailing them. This movie could have been so much better.P.S. The night camera work is way to dark to see what was going on

lastliberal At the end of the movie, the killer was wondering who would play him in a movie. I think he is still waiting as this was probably the most boring show I have ever seen about a serial killer.When the script is already written for you, you would think you have time to focus on some other parts of the movie to make it interesting. Not here folks. There was nothing interesting about this movie. I thought there was one part where it was going to get interesting, but I was mistaken.I don't watch "Grey's Anatomy," so I have no idea who Justin Chambers is, but he showed me nothing here. He spent the entire time drinking and yelling. I don't watch "Prison Break," so I know know Robin Tunney either. She spent all her time at the kitchen table whining.There is no one else here that I recognized either. I don't know why I watched this, but I recommend you let me suffer for you and avoid it at all costs.