The Zodiac (2005)

26% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(9,943 ratings)

A determined California detective attempts to crack one of the most mysterious cases in modern crime as the tale of the fearsome Zodiac Killer comes to the screen in director Alexander Bulkley's cinematic account of the crimes that rocked San Francisco's Bay Area from December 1968 to October of the… More A determined California detective attempts to crack one of the most mysterious cases in modern crime as the tale of the fearsome Zodiac Killer comes to the screen in director Alexander Bulkley's cinematic account of the crimes that rocked San Francisco's Bay Area from December 1968 to October of the following year. As the citizens of the small California town of Vallejo prepare for their holiday celebrations, the discovery that two teens have been viciously gunned down at a remote lover's lane leaves the citizens of a once tight-knit community fearing for their lives. In the months that follow the brutal crimes, Vallejo police inspector Matt Parish devotes his entire existence to revealing the identity of the elusive killer and ensuring that no more innocent lives are taken. With pressure from both his superiors and the local press mounting, lack of sufficient evidence and increased tensions at home lead Inspector Parish down a series of frustrating dead-end roads. When the killer strikes yet again, this time shooting a young couple in a darkened parking lot, investigators are shocked to receive a phone call from a man confessing to the crime. A letter sent to the local newspapers by the confessed killer states that if it is not published, a dozen more people will die in the coming weekend. Even more curiously, the letter contains a mysterious code that, if deciphered correctly, will supposedly reveal the true identity of the man behind these shocking crimes. Though a suspect is questioned following yet another killing, this time in broad daylight, the frustrated police department fails to make an arrest as the elusive killer continues to taunt both the police and the media with a series of menacing letters. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Alexander Bulkley
Written By: Kelley Bulkeley, Alexander Bulkley
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 17, 2006 Limited
On DVD: Aug 29, 2006
Studio: ThinkFilm

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The Zodiac has been made with the dunderheaded flatness of bad '70s TV.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
It has the look of a straight-to-video movie, or at best a Project Greenlight production.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
The would-be psychological thriller devolves into a plodding domestic drama.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
The B-team version of the story.
Michael Granberry, Dallas Morning News
Have the screenwriters ever studied the concept of arc, how characters evolve from opening to closing credits?
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News
Treats the unfolding murder spree like a routine police procedural.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
I hate to waste my time seeing what I know is an incomplete work. Good filmmaking and story telling, though.
Kim Voynar, Cinematical
Whether you're a true-crime buff or just an average cinephile who enjoys a well-crafted film, you'll find something to like about Zodiac.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The Zodiac case receded into limbo, and Bulkley's film ends on an inconclusive and profoundly unsatisfying note.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
It's two, maybe three different takes on the same subject duking it out for airtime, and the resulting struggle only leads to boredom.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
We can only hope that his blood lust has been quenched.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
Though The Zodiac is filled with a strong premise and taut atmosphere, Bulkley hardly ever gives us a reason to care for Johnny or Laura.
Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
A B-movie with just enough heft and factual accuracy to lull us into taking it seriously.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
Great case; mediocre movie.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A wan, pedestrian treatment of a notorious unsolved crime
Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews
Bulkley juxtaposes the benign ordinariness of Vallejo with the savagery of the crime, the wholesome landscape standing in sharp contrast to what happens when no one is looking.
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
It's a barely serviceable police procedural that has a harder time locating persuasive drama than its detectives do tracking down their man.
Randy Myers, Contra Costa Times
Impressive and unnerving, if uneven.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
This movie was born under the sign of the mediocre.
Johnny Butane, Dread Central
A less-than stable script and some questionable performances keep it firmly in the realm of direct-to-DVD fodder.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lee ?

Not as in-depth or graphic as David Fincher's version of the Vallejo killings and this one got a little boring at times too. But overall I thought it was ok and watchable at least. I do enjoy fact-based serial killer movies and I've seen a fair few and this was far from… More
Not as in-depth or graphic as David Fincher's version of the Vallejo killings and this one got a little boring at times too. But overall I thought it was ok and watchable at least. I do enjoy fact-based serial killer movies and I've seen a fair few and this was far from being the worst of them.
Michael G

Not to be confused with the David Fincher masterpiece, THE Zodiac is utter shit. It apes said genius's work in the most generic and unapologetic of ways--all from the "let's get this guy" cop pep talk down to the cliched "problems at home when the cop becomes… More
Not to be confused with the David Fincher masterpiece, THE Zodiac is utter shit. It apes said genius's work in the most generic and unapologetic of ways--all from the "let's get this guy" cop pep talk down to the cliched "problems at home when the cop becomes obsessed with his work and misses his own birthday" scene. I can't really think of anything good to say about this movie aside from Robin Tunney's fleeting cuteness. I might not have minded it if I was sideways when I saw it, but since I was sober this movie is puke. Chunky, chunky puke.
Jim W

The 2007 movie much much better.
Sarah P

Very disappointing Zodiac movie.
Chris M

An interesting true story about the northern California killer known to the public as the 'Zodiac Killer'
Matthew A

This was an OK movie. Zodiac's story is interesting but the movie was all too predictable. Hopefully the newer version will be better.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Justin Chambers as Matt Parish

            Robin Tunney as Laura Parish

            Rory Culkin as Johnny Parish

            Philip Baker Hall as Chief Frank Perkins

            William Mapother as Dale Coverling

            Rex Linn as Jim Martinez

            Brian Bloom as Zodiac

            George Maguire (II) as Morgue Technician

            Jarion Monroe as Doctor

            Brad William Henke as Bill Gregory

            Paul Ghiringhelli as Victor Ramierz

            Nate Dushku as Scott Washington

            Nick Scoggin as Gray

            Kathryn Howell as Mrs. Boucher

            Marty Lindsey as Bartender

            Shelby Alexis Irey as Bobbie

            Natassia Costa as Mary Boucher

            Kris Palm as Michael Newman

            Katelin Chesna as Patsy

            Luis Sagua as Sammy Karzoso

            Ian Scott McGregor as Paul Carmichael

            Jodi Feder as Gina Chambers

            Molly Mulholland as Waitress

            Logan Fahey as Friend #1

            Joe Stricker as Friend #2

            D.C. Meyer as Ambulance Driver

            Jessica Rofe as Nurse

            A. Donald Cross as Elderly Man

            Peter Van Shaik as Pete Morgan

            David Tenebaum as S.F. Police Officer

            Gilchrist Macquarrie as Teenage Boy

            George Maguire (I)
            
See full cast