Released in 2007, “Zodiac” is a psychological crime thriller directed by David Fincher, revolving around the real-life investigation of the Zodiac Killer, a serial murderer who remains unidentified to this day. He terrorized Northern California in the 1960s and 1970s. The film is a combination of the non-fiction books Zodiac and Zodiac Unmasked by Robert Graysmith and features actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, and Brian Cox.
Rather than relying on gore, the film focuses on a slower and quieter form of storytelling. It is not simply about a serial killer, but the journalists and detectives who became a part of this complex tale filled with pursuit and uncertainty. The film is a meticulous procedural and a haunting exploration of obsession and stands out as one of the most praised films in David Fincher’s filmography.
Synopsis
The Fourth of July in 1969 marks the beginning of a brutal shooting of a young couple parked in a lovers’ lane near Vallejo, California. A hooded stranger violently attacks the couple, killing the girl and injuring the boy. This is a single instance in a series of violent acts labeled as the work of the Zodiac Killer, who mocks the public and law enforcement by sending letters containing complex ciphers to local newspapers.
The San Francisco Chronicle is one of the newspapers which receives the letters and later becomes a focal point of the investigation. A seasoned crime reporter, Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) tackles the story while a timid editorial cartoonist, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes intrigued with the killer’s codes and messages. The film follows Graysmith’s increasing obsession with the investigation as the central narrative.
Detectives Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) and Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) are also working on the case, following leads through different counties while dealing with jurisdictional obstacles, numerous suspects, and a notably troubled, eccentric man named Arthur Leigh Allen. Despite his status as the primary person of interest, no definitive proof ever emerges to link him, or anyone else, conclusively to the circumstantial evidence surrounding the killings.
Over decades, the film shows the toll the case takes on the people involved. Careers suffer, relationships break apart, and there are mental health issues. The case captures Graysmith’s attention. For him, the journey becomes so consuming that he spirals into a deeply personal obsession that almost ends up costing him his marriage and his mind.
Performances and Characters
Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal)
Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance mirrors that of Robert Graysmith. Gyllenhaal captures the shift from curious onlooker to almost obsessive truth-seeker in the film’s emotional core. Graysmith the character embraces change, and Gyllenhaal’s performance shows that he lights up in tandem with vulnerability and resilience. Graysmith comes to life with obsessive determination and emotional depth to his character.
Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo)
Ruffalo’s portrayal of Inspector Toschi is an underplayed but compelling one. He is a blend of calm and disciplined intelligence mixed with frustration at the clear disruption that comes in the form of bureaucratic red tape or the lack of tangible proof. Through Toschi, the film gives a voice to the real-life pain law enforcement endure when there is no way of bringing the much-deserve justice.
Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.)
As the flamboyant journalist/personality, Avery, Robert Downey Jr. shines. A once self-assured Avery spirals into addiction and paranoia as the Zodiac becomes fixated on him. To this tragic character, overzealously pursued by the weight of outside forces, Downey paints with both wit and pathos.
Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch)
While Lynch’s Arthur Leigh Allen is not the main character, his portrayal is certainly unforgettable. There is an unusual quality to Lynch’s performance. He leans towards the unsettling, and the vague. The film leaves unresolved Allen’s guilt or innocence, but Lynch’s understated menace leaves a lasting impression.
Themes and Interpretation
Zodiac is a film not about resolution, but about the pursuit of meaning in the absence of certainty. The primary ideas of obsession, truth, and the toll of unresolved enigmas on those in relentless pursuit of resolution take focus.
One of the film’s central ideas is that truth is elusive. Above all, the work done in the Zodiac case is extensive, data is overwhelming, and suspects are numerous. This absence of resolution creates tension, and becomes the film’s focus.The film also explores details surrounding the psychological aspects of obsession. In the case of Graysmith, the almost unexplainable crime took hold of his very being. Something similar can be noted for Toschi and Avery, as they suffered personally and professionally while the case remained cold. Not only the victims, but the public and the media as a whole were also being manipulated. It highlights the fact that uncertainty can actually be a form of power.
Fincher also explores some of the more prominent issues surrounding the case, like the expiration of forensic evidence, media attention, and the more prominent unending feud between the detectives working on the case. In his cinematic universe, the Zodiac Killer does not only possess immense intelligence, but also the inability of the institutions around him.
Visual Style and Direction
David Fincher comes with a reputation of being a perfectionist. In Zodiac, however, he displays a more clinical approach, ignoring the dramatizations typically attributed to serial killers. He steps away from flashy and instep with the slow but relentless pace of real-life investigation.
As such, the cinematographer and Harris Savides sets the tone for the film with muted colors for the gritty 1970s. He restricts his use of natural lighting to a more shadowy approach to meticulously designed sets to transport the viewer to rather than bring attention to the time period.
One of the film’s most memorable scenes is the chilling basement scene where Graysmith follows a lead that descends into claustrophobic dread. Fincher skillfully turns a still moment into one of the film’s most suspenseful ones. It showcases how fear emanates from uncertainty and isolation.
As ambient silences envelops the atmosphere, the score, ambient sounds and David Shire’s era appropriate songs blend beautifully to the film’s haunting tone.
Zodiac is known for its dedication to the historical details of the plot. Fincher and the writers collaborated with Graysmith and meticulously analyzed the case files, news archives, and police reports. Unlike most filmmakers, the narrative is not altered for dramatization, but rather embraces the unresolved, frustrating reality of the case.
Zodiac received overwhelming critical acclaim and praise for the intelligent script, precise direction, and nuanced performances. While it didn’t become a box office smash, its reputation as one of the standout films of the 2000s has only increased, especially in the true crime genre. It is frequently cited for its influence on later films and series focusing on the psychological aspects of criminal investigations.
Conclusion
Unlike other movies in the genre, Zodiac is a crime thriller unlike any other. It does not provide any closure, offering an in-depth examination on the human need to make sense of the senseless. It transforms a true crime tale into a transcendental exploration of human fixation, terror, and the boundaries of reality, thanks to the film’s iconic casting, masterful script, and Fincher’s assured direction.
Zodiac stands apart from its peers, as the film chooses to forego answering the movie’s central question. In doing so, the film delivers a haunting, unforgettable, quintessentially American experience that lasts well beyond the film’s conclusion.
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