Painstaking serial killer story might well be the director's best

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2016)

David Fincher's laborious, incredibly detailed account of the infamous 'Zodiac' killings that shocked America in the late '60s is another feather in the hat of the auteur and ranks as one of his best films. The problem – if you can call it that – with Zodiac – is that it's incredibly long and you feel every second of the running time. It's a slow paced movie with little action, more of a police procedural as the viewer becomes enveloped in clues and mysterious over an incredibly long period. Fincher's aim is to recount every single little detail of what happens, and as usual for this director, not a second is wasted. He really gets across the lengthy, sometimes lethargic nature of the case and the boring minutiae of police work. I was entranced by all this but some might find it off-putting.
In essence this film has two sides. The first is about the killer and the cops pursuing him. The opening hour focuses on shocking murder scenes and is pretty unnerving; the killer then slips into the background and we get involved in tons of theories and ideas about who he could be. The story brought new light to my understanding of the justice system and really envelops you – if you let it – in everything that's going on. The second side of the film is all about the leading character, Robert Graysmith, and his developing obsession with the crimes. It's one of the best portrayals of obsession I've seen on film, gruellingly realistic. Jake Gyllenhaal is pretty much wonderful in the movie and has his character just right.
Fincher's attention to detail is second to none and the movie looks great, with top dollar cinematography. The script is full of fast and snappy dialogue and there's humour in surprising places to uplift some of the darker moments. The cast is also fine: Robert Downey Jr. continues his career redevelopment as the alcoholic reporter and Mark Ruffalo stands out as the dogged cop. Also look out for a show-stopping turn from Brian Cox, an ultra-creepy appearance from familiar character actor John Carroll Lynch, and an unrecognisable Anthony Edwards as Ruffalo's partner. As a whole the film has a sinister atmosphere with some truly unnerving moments (the phone calls and the visit to the basement spring to mind) and I enjoyed sitting through it. It's the kind of film you can quite happily lose yourself in, something Graysmith himself would readily identify with.