On July 4, 1969, a killer shoots a couple on lovers' lane in Vallejo, California. The boy survives. The San Francisco Chronicle receives a letter from the Zodiac killer to print his letters with symbols. Reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr) is on the case with the help of eager cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). The brutal murders continue moving to San Francisco. San Francisco police detectives Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are given the case. Other police include Jack Mulanax (Elias Koteas) in Vallejo and Detective Ken Narlow (Donal Logue) in Napa. Defense lawyer Melvin Belli (Brian Cox) appearing on TV gets a call from the supposed killer.

This starts off as an interesting serial killer mystery. The attacks are horrifically shown. The couple forced to be tied up and stabbed is probably the most memorable. However the movie turns into something deeper. This is not another serial killer movie like the endless TV shows that populate modern networks. It may not even be about the central characters. This is an immersive experience living with the serial killer always on the mind. The Zodiac killer is just out there in this world. It's fascinating in its dark undertones and the lack of flashiness.

For me, it isn't his best, but it really is an impressive film. The best thing about Zodiac is its atmosphere, it is really quite chilling and affecting. Equally impressive is the story, it is a very intriguing one and told very cleverly as it probes the limits of knowledge and evidence with startling power. The script is very well written and really makes you think. And it isn't a David Fincher movie without great visuals and indeed Zodiac has that. The cinematography is really quite skillful and the scenery, locations and lighting match the brooding atmosphere wonderfully. Fincher also does a superb directing, in fact his direction is a primary factor in what makes Zodiac one of his better movies. This serial killer is also quite different, and this is in a good way. Fincher allows the brutality of the murders to take second place to how the investigation takes its toll on the protagonists, and I for one found that quite refreshing. The acting is equally good, Jake Gyllenhaal can be bland sometimes, but he has given some good performances too and his performance here is one of them. Mark Ruffalo is even better, and Robert Downey Jnr even more so. So overall, different but refreshing, clever and well made film and one of Fincher's better movies. 9/10 Bethany Cox

In the late 1960s and into the 70s, an unknown serial killer calling himself 'Zodiac' killed several people in the San Francisco area. How many exactly isn't certain, as the killed appears to have claimed credit for his crimes AND other crimes. In other words, he wanted credit for all sorts of murders...whether he committed them or not. What also makes him unusual is that the guy enjoyed taunting the police and newspapers....and he was also never caught. I mention this because it's all public record...and a search on Google will tell you the case was never solved. And, because of this, no matter how good the movie is (and it is very well made), it must end without the killer being caught.

The story mostly is shown through the standpoint of a political cartoonist who worked for the San Francisco Chronical, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). However, it switches viewpoints several times....to other reporters as well as the police investigating the case. But it always comes back to Graysmith, as he's portrayed with being obsessed with the case...even more so than the police.

I appreciated the film because it appears that the screenwriters did not take liberties with the story and they tried to get it right. This sort of thing is unusual as often films radically change the facts. But, because of this, I am sure many viewers felt cheated as there IS no solution to the case....and they really couldn't have one.