A stylish, well acted and particularly grisly thriller...

Rating: 8/10 (28 January 2015)

There are two crucial details which set "Zodiac" apart from any other serial-killer film (like Fincher's own "Se7en", for example) – it's based on a true story, and that true story still doesn't have an ending. To this day, much like Jack the Ripper, the identity of the "Zodiac" killer still hasn't been confirmed, which leaves an interesting dilemma for any filmmaker attempting to adapt the story. Do you leave the film without a resolution, or sway against the truth and invent an ending? Neither of those two options is perfect, but thankfully the process of the film is thrilling enough that a complete conclusion is never particularly necessary. It's a stylish, well acted and particularly grisly thriller which skilfully tackles ideas about obsession and the need for an answer despite never actually getting one itself.
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a cartoonist who becomes fascinated by the murders, the film follows his attempts to solve the case with the help of a journalist at his newspaper, played by Robert Downey Jr, and local detective, played by Mark Ruffalo. The case gets increasingly complex as more murders (which are shown in extremely graphic detail) take place and the unknown murderer continues to taunt the police through his cryptic letters. At its very best, it is an exercise in creating tension in its audience, especially when the Zodiac killer is on the phone live on TV, or when Gyllenhaal's character is searching a suspect's house.
At its infrequent worst, however, the film drags as a result of its methods – while the first half of the film is relatively close together in time, it begins to jump later and ends up spanning nearly 20 years. There are slow passages where little new information is learned, and you long for either another murder scene or something crucial to happen. Thankfully it is held up most of the time by brilliant performances from all three leads (Downey Jr is probably at his least annoying here), who work together very well and convey the constant mystery of their situation very well. Gyllenhaal deserves particular praise for his excellent portrayal of an obsessive, who cannot stop until the case is closed.
If anything, this feels like a classic Fincher film, with its moody cinematography and 'keeps you guessing' plot-line. The music adds both suspense and a large amount of nostalgia through its referencing of period classics, and the film's desire to transport you back entirely to the 70s is very commendable. It's an entertaining if sometimes slow-going thriller, and certain to give you your own theories about this ongoing real-life murder case.