Zodiac

One of my favourite films. A true masterclass in filmmaking.

This is at all times a suspense thriller, police drama, version of true story, and a character exploration of 3 men.

We see the descent into obsession of the lead detective, the reporter, and a curious bystander who falls deepest of all - the man whose book this is based on, Robert Graysmith.

I went the cinema two evenings in a row to see this on release. I found it a captivating story but also was blown away by the sheer quality of the film itself from all aspects - direction, cinematography, the actors and the acting itself. Everyone is top class.

I've since watched it a few more times - usually in its Director's Cut longer version. The extra scenes and exploration are well worth the added runtime.

Treading a fine line without spoiling the film, I will concede that many find the film doesn't live up to its first 40 minutes. But they're missing a key point here in my opinion. The larger impact of a serial killer isn't the deaths of the people killed, it's that society as a whole is sent into panic and fear during the reign of terror. The aftermath long outweighs the initial acts.

This film does an incredible job at giving the viewer its best evidences and a viable culprit. No certainty has ever surrounded the case but there is a brilliant conclusion to a gripping story.

Films like this don't get made often. When quality of this level appears, savour it.


10/10

David Finchers finest hour. And that’s saying a lot.

“Zodiac” isn’t just a movie about a serial killer—it’s a meticulous study of obsession, investigation, and the crushing weight of time. David Fincher, with his surgical precision and methodical approach to suspense, turns the infamous Zodiac killer case into a suffocating thriller where the search for the truth is more agonizing than any explicit act of violence. Unlike other serial killer movies that often romanticize or fetishize evil, “Zodiac” keeps a near-documentary tone, pulling the audience into the endless frustration of a case that always seems on the verge of being solved but never quite gets there.

James Vanderbilt’s screenplay is a narrative puzzle, weaving together three distinct perspectives: detectives David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards), leading the official investigation; journalist Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), whose life and career are consumed by the case; and, most importantly, cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose growing obsession with the Zodiac becomes the driving force of the story. This fragmented structure works brilliantly because it mirrors the nature of the case itself—there are clues, there are suspects, there are breakthroughs, but never a definitive answer.

Visually, Fincher crafts a painstakingly accurate recreation of 1960s and 70s San Francisco, from the yellowish, grainy lighting of newsroom offices to the damp, empty alleyways where fear lingers in the air. Harris Savides’ cinematography leans into a desaturated color palette, creating a sense of decay and wear as the years drag on. The passage of time isn’t just reflected through changes in wardrobe and set design but through subtle transitions that suggest the emotional aging of the characters—especially Graysmith, who starts out as a naïve bystander and ends up a man consumed by paranoia.

The crime scenes are built with unsettling realism. Fincher doesn’t stylize the violence; instead, he presents it in a blunt, matter-of-fact way, making it even more disturbing. The first murder, for example, has no musical score to heighten the fear—the impact comes from the sheer banality of the scene, the casual way in which life is taken. But the real horror of “Zodiac” isn’t in the murders themselves—it’s in the constant uncertainty. The feeling that at any moment, someone could be face to face with the killer without even realizing it is what truly lingers.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance is one of the film’s strongest pillars. His Robert Graysmith starts off as an outsider, a cartoonist with no journalistic experience, but his gradual transformation into an obsessive investigator is fascinating to watch. Gyllenhaal captures the shift from innocent enthusiasm to manic exhaustion in a way that feels natural, never over-the-top. Robert Downey Jr., on the other hand, plays Paul Avery as charismatic and sharp-witted, but as the case wears him down, he crumbles into self-destruction. And Mark Ruffalo, with his restrained performance, makes Toschi a frustrated detective—a man clinging to details because deep down, he knows justice may never come.

But what makes “Zodiac” truly brilliant is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead of following the usual crime thriller formula—where there’s a clear villain to hunt and a satisfying resolution—Fincher leaves us with a heavy sense of unease. The truth is never fully confirmed, and the impact of that—on the characters and the audience—is profound. The final glance exchanged between two men, loaded with unspoken understanding, is more powerful than any dramatic confrontation ever could be.

In the end, “Zodiac” isn’t about the killer—it’s about the lives destroyed by the relentless pursuit of him. It’s a dense, detailed, and painstakingly crafted film that demands patience but rewards with total immersion into one of the most unsettling criminal cases in American history. Fincher, with his almost obsessive precision, turns a real-life mystery into something far more than just a thriller—he creates a haunting portrait of human obsession and the eternal frustration of chasing answers that may never come.

So, a few days of rest, I returned to my cinephile persona, after creating a list with several movie options for viewing.

I believe this is the first time I have seen two movies in a row from the same director, in this case, the great David Fincher. This happened because I came to learn that HBOMax (the platform I have used and use to watch most of Fincher's films) has removed Fight Club and Gone Girl and will remove Se7en (one of my favorite films), so I am trying to rush my viewing of his work before it is possibly removed.

So, getting into the film itself. I can say, without any shadow of a doubt, that the film does not disappoint: all-star cast; interestingly large but good screenplay; and a surprising quest to create a historically grounded scenario. I think my "flame" of desire to see the film was already severely reduced because I already knew beforehand much of the story of the Zodiac, since, back in the day, I viewed a series just about this serial killer, which, if I'm not mistaken, aired on History channel. However, I believe that this should not count for the film's final score, as it depends on one's setting with the story of the film's "co-star" and one must admit and acknowledge the excellence of this film.

Keep it up Fincher. The next one I will see from this magnificent director is The Game, which is on Netflix.

Right now, my top 4 are: 1. Se7en; 2. Fight Club; 3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which I will be rewatching in a near future); 4. Zodiac

Underrated, and just long enough.

This is long but gripping the entire time. David Fincher put so much effort into making this feel real. Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo both give terrific performances.

this is definitely one of the best crime/serial killer films i've seen. it doesn't lose itself in the suspence, keeping it pretty straight forward most of the time, while still making your heart race in big moments all throughout. PERFECT ending. Jake and Mark need to be working together more often, they absolutely CRUSHED this film. 100% want to rewatch at some point.

9/10