A cheapo expose on the Zodiac murders that occurred in the San Francisco Bay area in 1968 and 1969 that benefits from its year of release in 1971, not too far removed, the stringent budget which lends the project a degree of authenticity, as well as the focus on who the film portrays as the killer, a postal clerk who loves rabbits, and buries one that died near a cross, in a strikingly bizarre scene. Compared with the film that came out in 2007, this one stands up pretty well, especially for connoisseurs of films like this, no-budget but an eye for creativity. It made it on to the TCM Underground films, a wise decision by the program director.

"The Zodiac Killer" is a gritty, low-budget, semidocumentary account of the notorious serial killer who terrorized California in the 1960s and who was never apprehended. The film introduces us to two archetypal "angry white men": the shy, sexually repressed postman (this before "disgrunted postal worker" became a catch phrase) and a balding, bitter, misogynistic truck driver locked in a nasty custody dispute with his ex. While not particularly well made, the film holds the viewer's interest and manages to create some suspense. Like many B movies it sheds light on aspects of the human condition too often ignored by Hollywood A movies. For once we have a film where everyone isn't good-looking, and we have a maniac who preys on both men and women instead of just going after hot chicks. Of course much of it is fictional or at least highly speculative, since we still don't know the killer's identity. "The Zodiac Killer" is available from Something Weird Video as part of its "Sharpshooter Triple Feature" along with "The Sex Killer" and "Zero In and Scream," two highly entertaining sexploitation films that compare favorably with a lot of the stuff Hollywood makes these days.

A deranged serial killer terrorizes San Francisco and writes letters to local newspapers about his evil exploits. Tom Hanson's basic direction, the gritty urban locations, the seamy tone, several startling moments of ugly and brutal violence (the sequence with an amorous young couple being attacked and murdered by a lake packs a truly jolting punch), a mean-spirited misogynistic streak, the rough cinematography by Robert Birchall and Wilson S. Hong, the hit-or-miss acting, the psycho's freaky ranting monologues, the grim fact that the story is based on scary real-life events, and a chilling open ending all give this movie a certain super seedy quality that paradoxically enough makes it that much more creepy and unnerving rather than less so. Hal Reed really sinks his teeth into his juicy role as meek, yet unhinged mailman Jerry. Doodles Weaver has a funny bit part as dirty old man neighbor Doc. Worth a watch for true crime aficionados.