Zodiac

DVD - APPROX. 157 MINS. - 2007 - US Rating: R

Main feature:

Release Jul 24, 2007
Video Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Anamorphic - Enhanced for Widescreen TVs.
Audio English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles English, Spanish, French
Studio Paramount
Year 2007
Genre Crime, Thriller

Special features:

None or features waiting to be announced.

Synopsis:

Based on the actual case files of one of the most intriguing unsolved crimes in the nation’s history, “ZODIAC” is a thriller from David Fincher, director of Se7en and Panic Room. As a serial killer terrifies the San Francisco Bay Area and taunts police with his ciphers and letters, investigators in four jurisdictions search for the murderer. The case will become an obsession for four men as their lives and careers are built and destroyed by the endless trail of clues.

David Fincher's adaptation of the Robert Graysmith book masterfully transports viewers to the Bay Area in the 1960s and '70s by drawing on actual case files from the notoriously unsolved Zodiac killer mystery. As a murderer with seemingly random targets starts sending terrifying threats and cryptic codes to police and publishers all around San Francisco, fear and paranoia descend on the city. Through slow pacing, Fincher creates an effectively chilling atmosphere in which he spins a thick web of character-driven plotlines. Early scenes depicting the Zodiac's first-known murders vividly capture the victim's fear and agony and will leave viewers haunted.

When the Zodiac's ciphers arrive at the San Francisco Chronicle, they spark the interest of Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a young cartoonist with a penchant for puzzles. As the former Boy Scout earnestly tries to decode the messages, eccentric reporter Paul Avery approaches the case from a career-boosting angle. Meanwhile, a string of investigators from four jurisdictions carry on a complex and unsatisfying search for the elusive killer. Inspectors Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) at times collide with Avery and Graysmith, whose interest in the case extends long after most have given up.

Even at two-and-a-half hours in length, this dense murder mystery should manage to keep its audience riveted throughout. Paired with stellar performances from Ruffalo, Downey, Gyllenhaal, and countless others, a clever script produces well-developed characters, and the film's art direction, music, and costumes all combine to create an authentic sense of time and place. The somber tone of the atmospheric thriller gives the film a documentary-like aesthetic at times, lending weight to the story's facts while never relying on cheap tricks. Unlike murder mysteries such as The Black Dahlia, ZODIAC invites viewers to develop theories of their own, allowing them to come to their own conclusions.

Cast and Crew:

Paramount presents
Robert Downey Jr.Mark RuffaloJake GyllenhaalAnthony Edwards"Zodiac"
directed byDavid Fincher
Production Year: 2007

Please note:

Details are based on information from various sources. We do everything we can to keep them as accurate as possible. However, errors occur so use this information at your own risk and remember to check the product itself before buying.