My Review of "Zodiac"

Zodiac came out back in 2007 and I can't believe I didn't see this movie until now. This was one heck of a movie not just because the events of the movie are terribly fascinating but because it explores the lives of those that get trapped in the events. The movie was made so well that I would direct people to this movie to show them how to build intrigue to a movie.

This movie starts out back in the late 1960s with a couple in a car. A young woman picks up a young man up to get something to eat but things seem to be a little off when they miss the restaurant. They park at a lookout area where it looks like they're going to make out. Just then there's a mysterious car that pulls up toward them and the woman looks like she recognizes who it is. The car leaves them after a moment of hesitation. The couple look to be relieved until the car comes out and a mysterious man approaches them. The two are killed in cold blood.

Not too long after the murder a man calls the police to investigate the murder but also advises them that he had committed the murder. This is the first of many murders of the so called "Zodiac" killer.

The main character in this movie is a cartoonist named Robert. You may already think that it's pretty odd to have a newspaper cartoonist as the main detective of the movie but as the movie progresses you understand why.

There are a number of players in the search for the Zodiac killer but we also have to remember that the series of events happen in the late 60's. What's even scarier is that the events in this movie are based on true events. With technology and techniques at the time being more primitive than they are today you kind of understand why this case takes so long to solve.

The movie also goes into the egos that get in the way of police investigations. It's kind of crazy how the police were not able to communicate with one another to get the story straight with one another. I mentioned before that it was a cartoonist that helped with solving the murder. With all of the egos in play they didn't think an unassuming cartoonist would be able to do much good in the investigation so they just gave him the information he wanted.

I love the fact that they also dive deep into the psyche of the police officers and the journalists that are involved in the case. A lot of them are headbutting with one another thinking they're trying to do the best for the case. The case also has a way of making everyone obsessive about the case.

They become so obsessive that when they come up with a possible suspect they go to great lengths to prove that they're correct. Is it really an investigation when you're trying to push your own agenda though?

To the detriment of some of the characters in this movie the investigation has a way of making them go insane. You see the obsession of some of the characters trying to figure out the case. Families and friends are broken up because of their obsession with the case. Some of them try to see the overall picture of what's good for their work/life balance. Unfortunately not everyone know how to keep a good balance and push themselves into their work a little too much.

This movie is also incredibly shot. The scenes all look pristine almost to the point where you think they're artistic videos. The visuals are visceral and really get you to fall deep into the movie. There is so much atmosphere in this movie that you feel that you're there in the movie with them. Unfortunately for us this includes some of the murders. Although they don't show too many grisly details we know what's going on. I had a few moments where i cringed because of the severity of the murders.

Overall, I think you'll like this movie even if you're not into mystery movies. This movie was made so masterfully that I think anyone can really fall deeply into its story. It's incredibly creepy and I'm not usually into those types of movies but they sucked me in with the storytelling and the character development. I have to give this movie a 9 out of 10. It is probably one of the best movies I've seen in quite some time. It's a shame that I only got to see it now in 2020.