ZODIAC

US, 2007, 158 minutes, Colour.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Robert Downey Jr, Brian Cox, John Carroll Lynch, Chloe Sevigny, Candy Clark, Elias Koteas, Dermot Mulrooney, Donal Logue, Philip Baker Hall, Zac Grenier, Adam Goldberg, James le Gros, Clea Duvall.
Directed by David Fincher.

In the late 1960s, early 1970s, a serial killer terrorised the San Francisco area. He sent coded letters to the press. He taunted the police and boasted of his exploits. He used the sign of the zodiac and was called the Zodiac killer. The investigation lasted many years with no one arrested. There were several suspects. One of the major suspects was finally identified in 1991 but died before charges could be laid.

This is the story of the investigation, of the media response, of one individual’s obsession with the case and his uncovering of the evidence which led to the principal suspect. The investigator was a cartoonist, Robert Graysmith, working for the San Francisco Chronicle who eventually published his book on which the screenplay for Zodiac is based. He served as an advisor as did the chief detective on the case and a number of other police officers.

The film uses the technique of names, places and dates to give a kind of documentary tone to the film, inviting the audience to share the experiences of the killings, the steps taken by press and police, the frustration in not being able to charge a suspect, the frustration of time passing, the intense activity of Robert Graysmith and the final identification of a photo of the killer by one of the earliest victims who survived an attack by the Zodiac.

The film, lasting almost three hours, is continually absorbing, especially for those who are intrigued by puzzles and codes and trying to decipher them. For those who prefer straight action, Zodiac might seem too drawn out, emotional but also cerebral.

On the one hand the choice of David Fincher as director might seem strange. He has something of a reputation for stylish and stylised terror or horror with such films as Aliens 3, Seven, The Game, Fight Club and Panic Room. These are much more flourish and flair films than Zodiac. On the other hand, especially with Seven, Fincher has shown great interest in exploring the character and impact of a serial killer.

The film opens with the popular style and music of the late 1960s, fairly straightforward visuals, even with the (rather visually restrained though dramatically tense) sequences of the first murders. As the time frame moves on, the film resembles more the police investigation films of the seventies and eighties, even showing a clip and the posters for Dirty Harry which seems based in part on the Zodiac killer.

Initial contact is made with the crime reporter for the Chronicle, Paul Avery. Avery was something of a maverick and took particular interest in the case, following leads, upsetting detectives, writing articles but becoming afraid when he was threatened by the killer. He was moved off the case and began to drink, dying in 2000. He is played with his customary distinctiveness by a long-haired and goateed Robert Downey Jr.

However, in the background is a very earnest young cartoonist whom Avery befriends and who is caught up in puzzles and continues to follow the case, Robert Graysmith , played with an obsessive charm and naivete by Jake Gylenhaal. In the latter part of the film, his character and investigation dominate.

In the meantime, the detectives begin their work. The partners are played by Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards. When the film focuses on them, we follow the procedures in quite some detail. When the Anthony Edwards character resigns, then the film pays great attention to Mark Ruffalo, especially the frustrations in later years as little progress seems to be being made.

A number of quite creepy characters are seen or heard about, all of whom could be plausible candidates for the Zodiac. One of them in particular, played with a bizarre blend of arrogance, defiance, smile and sincerity is played very interestingly (and sinisterly) by John Carroll Lynch.

Over the years there have been many films in this genre. One thinks of The Boston Strangler or 10 Rillington Place from decades ago. In the 1970s there was Badlands. Television has portrayed some of the headline cases in the US like those of Ted Bundy, Mrs Harris and the Scarsdale Diet killing or the Melendez brothers who killed their parents. Zodiac is one of the most accomplished of these films.

1.The film as a piece of investigative cinema? True crime? The context? The mystery? The thesis about possible killers? The consequences?

2.David Fincher and his career, his excelling at presenting the sinister? The difference in this film, more ordinary? The strong cast? Musical score?

3.The structure and the emphasis on times, dates, time between incidents? The cumulative effect for the audience in going through the case step by step? The truth? The identification of several suspects? The possible principal suspect? Helping audiences to be aware of the case and its implications?

4.The puzzle, the work of the detectives and following clues, gathering evidence, circumstantial evidence? The required evidence for legal proceedings? Interviews and assessments? The reactions of the suspects? Identifying suspects? A coherent case against them? The lying on the part of suspects? The effect of time passing and evidence not so available?

5.The title and the importance of codes, Zodiac (and the watch)? The books about codes being stolen from the navy? The references to the film The Most Dangerous Game, humans and their pursuit of humans? Sufficient for motivation or not? The screenings in the San Francisco area? The place of guns and knives? The various victims?

6.The focus on terrorising the mother with the baby? The attack on children? The various interpretations of the code? The messages sent to the newspapers? Robert Graysmith and his interest and involvement? The police? The killer and the contact with Paul Avery, Graysmith, the police? Writing the information on the cars? The bloodstained cloth in the letters?

7.The various suspects, the writing experts and their verdicts, ambidextrous aspects of the writing? Arthur Leigh- Allen, Rick Marshall? The projectionist? The interviews, especially with Allen? Robert Graysmith’s visit to the projectionist’s house – and the eerie aspects and his fears? Time elements, opportunity? Graysmith and the can of film, the projectionists’ reactions, the basement? The cumulative effect?

8.Arthur Leigh- Allen as the main suspect? The information from the flatmate and his interviews, about Allen’s boasts? Going back to him? The credibility of his being the killer? His brother and sister-in-law, the interviews, their information, lack of contact with him? Saying the flatmate was a reliable witness? The sex offences, his being sacked from the school? Help? His career, in the services? Linda and the paint party? The testimony of her sister? The initial interview, his performance, insolence and arrogance, confidence, denials? The issue of the watch and Dave taking it? His statements, defiance? The issue of writing, his being ambidextrous? Discovering that he lived fifty yards from his victim? The discussions about the letters, the writing, the spelling, his being arrested and his silence? The gap from the Zodiac killer’s letters? His coming out of prison and the letter being typed? Further letters? Robert going to see him in the 1980s and confronting him in the shop? The 1990s, the surviving victim and his identifying the photo? The final information about him, his heart attack and death? The credibility that he should have been the killer?

9.The prologue, the young couple, the man picking up the woman, her being married, in the secluded spot, the cars and the lights, the night, the confrontation, the shooting? The woman and her death? The young man and his surviving, disappearing, being interviewed decades later?

10.The young couple, the daylight, the confrontation with the masked man, their fear, his wanting the keys, the wallet, the girl tying the man up, their pleading, their being stabbed?

11.The taxi driver, picking up the fare, his death?

12.The mother, the car breakdown, the information about the tyre, the killer helping, the wheel coming off the car, the mother and the lift, leaping from the car, with the baby, the police and the interviews?

13.The introduction to Paul Avery, Robert Downey Jr’s presence and style? The letter? Information gathering, the editor and his reaction? Avery and his expertise as a crime journalist, his style, the interactions with Robert, their becoming friends? The discussions? The further letters, Robert and his breaking the code, the investigation, going to the dangerous meeting? Interaction with the police and David Tosky? On the flight, the police rebuking him? The threat to his own life, the television news, people wearing badges that they were not Paul Avery? His continuing to drink, fear, his behaviour? His being ousted? Robert’s later visit and his being insulted? The final information about his death?

14.The staff at the newspaper, the owners? The role of the newspapers, receiving letters, whether to publish information or not, public interest, the police collaboration?

15.Robert Graysmith, as author of the book on which the film was based? Young man, his domestic arrangements, enthusiasm, naivety? His cartoons? Listening in to the meetings? Introducing himself to Paul, the discussions, his interest in the case, deciphering the code, reading the books about codes, explanations to Paul? Being fixed up for the date with Melanie, his concern, her interpretation of his behaviour, the phone calls? The continuing of the relationship? The continuing of his interest in the case? His research, the books, getting the information from David Tosky, going to the various police forces, into the archives, getting dates and names, forming theories? Melanie and her living with this, growing exasperation, taking the children? The years passing? The home sequences, his being wrapped up in the obsession, even having his sons collaborate in interpretation? David Tosky and his hounding him, Tosky and his decision to give him the information – without giving him the information? The visits to the archives, his travel, the interviews, the leads? His appearing on television and Melanie being concerned?

16.The name of Rick Marshall, his military background, the visits to try to get information about him, identify him? The discussions with the various handwriting experts? (And the various theories, discrediting some of them because of their drinking?) His visit to the projectionist, the information about the can of film, the writing, the writing on the posters and the comparisons? His being anxious in the house? The basement, the locked door? The investigations about Leigh-Allen? Their discussions about him with the sister, the paint party, visiting the prison to see the sister, the information that he lived not far from her? The interactions with David Tosky, Tosky’s anger and his wife exasperated? His giving the final information about Leigh- Allen? Having the breakfast, Tosky agreeing with him? Putting the various pieces together?

17.Robert and his tracking down Leigh- Allen, going to see him in the shop, the visual confrontation?

18.David Tosky, his work, his partnership with William Armstrong, their working together, doing the hard slog, the detail, discussions with other officers, visits to various police stations, flights, exasperation with Paul Avery and the press? The interviews, especially the visit with Arthur Leigh-Allen? The watch? The clues, the Vallejo police, the initial letters? Dead ends? His own personal life and its effect?

19.William Armstrong, good partner, the work, his observations, his finally giving up on the investigation?

20.David Tosky and the letter after some silence, Aristide Maupin and his accusations that Tosky had written the letter himself? Being ousted from investigations? Robert and the various phone calls, the final vindication?

21.The sequence with the officer interviewing the surviving murder victim, his identifying Arthur Leigh- Allen in the photo?

22.The various other experts, the personalities of the police officers, the different precincts? The interview with Melvin Belli – and his arrogant style, self-importance? The later visit by Robert to Belli – and getting the detailed information about phone calls from the maid?

23.The cumulative effect of following this investigation, examining the theses? Police work, the role of newspapers, legal needs and evidence? The intensity of Robert Graysmith and his pursuit?

24.The audience conclusions from the evidence given?