The Zodiac Killer (1971)

It's a very odd concoction. Part recreation of a real event, part wild conjecture and part darkly humorous proto-slasher flick. When the movie sticks with the then known facts of the case, it has a certain grungy realism that makes it more believable than similar scenes in Fincher's superb 2007 film ZODIAC. As well-produced as the Fincher film is, the immediacy of shooting ZODIAC KILLER so close to the actual events gives it an authenticity it otherwise wouldn't earn with its haphazard filmmaking.But, ZODIAC KILLER is a very strangely structured film. What I describe above is really only a small portion of the movie. Most of it is given over to an imagined scenario about a disturbed and cultist mailman (Jerry) who turns out to be the Zodiac. For good measure, a decent amount of the relatively short running time (87 mins) is given over to red herring. Hal Reed may not have been the most seasoned actor, but, he gives off a creepy vibe that chills as Jerry. Unfortunately, the movie gets torpedoed by a laughable last third that goes off the rails with absurd 'added killings' to the Zodiac's resume. They have a certain black comedy factor, but, get ridiculous by the end.In the end this is mostly a curio for those interested in the Zodiac killer story, as well as early 70s grindhouse film fans.The new restoration is a collaboration between AGFA and Something Weird. it's very much a period 35mm print. Colors are a bit variable, and there's a good amount of wear and yes, those reel change holes are huge! But, overall, this is a very good transfer and restoration of a rare title. And, considering the source material - it's a terrific job all around.P.S. In-depth interview with Director Tom Hanson from the great site TEMPLE OF SCHLOCK where he talks about hoping to ensnare the real Zodiac Killer with this film!!

I must admit I had to laugh out loud when Doodles Weaver, a long-time comic actor, appeared in a small part as the Zodiac Killer's next door neighbor.Doodles was a holdover from the Fifties' Golden Age of Television and he had the funniest lines in this movie. Some of the murder scenes were rather intense and I felt that movie held my attention. The Zodiac in this movie had no real m.o for the police to follow and this perhaps explains why he was never captured in real life. I found it interesting that the murderer in this movie carried around his disguises (wig, fake glasses with a plastic nose and, most noticeably, a black executioner outfit. The attack of the young couple is very graphic and still quite powerful after all of these years. If you're interested in the real-life Zodiac case, you'll need to take this movie with a grain of salt!

This low, low budget thriller attempts to seriously cast a light on the reality of serial killers in our society, purporting to be "based on the facts". It soon came in the wake of the real life Zodiac murders that plagued San Francisco in the late 1960s. While obviously it's not nearly as polished or as well known as "Dirty Harry", it is a genuinely interesting curio. This viewer actually thought that the acting wasn't that bad; in fact, it's better than one might ordinarily find in such B level fare.At first, we follow the day to day activities of two guys: harried mailman Jerry (Hal Reed, "The Doberman Gang") and volatile truck driver Grover (Bob Jones). Jerry comes across as a nice enough, polite enough man to others, while Bob likes to impress women by creating a false identity of a successful businessman. While the characters are somewhat entertaining to watch, they're just not as intriguing as the murder spree that will soon begin in earnest. While the killer will be taunting the authorities and the media with calls and letters, two frustrated detectives, Sgt. Pittman (Ray Lynch) and Officer Heller (Tom Pittman) will try to work the case.The raw, gritty approach is a plus, although "The Zodiac Killer" might not be trashy or exploitative enough for some viewer tastes. Location shooting is decent; there's sufficient violence and a little bit of gore. At times screenwriters Ray Cantrell and Manny Cardoza and director Tom Hanson create some humour with the material. We see our ego-driven, confident maniac (who's identified sooner in the movie than one might expect) actually kill one woman with her own trunk hood, and another with her own spare tire.While there's nothing really special here, this makes for some mildly amusing entertainment for seekers of obscure curiosities.Six out of 10.

Knowing the Producer and some cast members, you all likely did not know the main reason the Movie was made was to try and catch the Zodiak. There was a whole lot going on behind the scenes to scheme a plan where the Zodiak would come to see a Movie about himself. If he came, and was discovered, eventually arrested, The Movie Caught the Killer. So despite the poor reviews,what a thrill it would have been! Had a Movie caught a Killer, more folks would see it. Leading to more Movie productions. There could have been a Movie made about the methods developed to "catch" The Zodiak. Would you go see a film which led to the arrest of a Killer?