Zodiac: Blood, Guts and Seriously Uncaught Murderous Maniacs

3rd April, 2012.

Hmm … 

Now, I’ve got to confess, usually — if I’m seriously impressed by a film — I’ll usually be itching to start writing about it, straight away.

As you’re no doubt VERY aware, if you’ve read my write-up of Pontypool*.

At any rate, I have to admit to having had a quiet night in, last night.

Along with quite a lot of tea … and a copy of the 2007 David Fincher directed whodunnitº, Zodiac.

Which, despite not getting the Immediate Post treatment, is definitely worth watching.

~≈†≈~

Based on Robert Graysmith’s non-fiction book of the same name — and dealing with the Zodiac murders™ of the late 1960s and early 1970s — Zodiac sees Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith:  a young cartoonist on the San Francisco Chronicle who slowly becomes involved with the investigation of a series of killings, when his employers receive a letter.

A letter that claims to be from the killer, complete with details known only to the killer and the police AND a threat the killer will do something suitably nasty to a schoolbus.

That’s not all the killer sends

He ALSO includes a message in code, as well, with a challenge to decode it.

AND a piece of one victim’s shirt.

AND a running score … !

As the Robert Downey Jnr character, Paul Avery, puts it: “… he took credit for it anyway, because he's in it for the press.”

~≈†≈~

Now … 

Let’s cutting to the chase, shall we … ?

You’re probably going to ask me something along the lines of “Paul, should I see Zodiac … ?”

My personal answer is going to be a very definite “Yes”.

Granted, I don’t think it’s as tense of Pontypool or Silence of the Lambs†.

But Zodiac is a very well paced thriller: and despite being over 157 minutes, a thoroughly engrossing one that kept me pinned to my seat.

Go see.

Zodiac

★★★☆

*        If you’ve not seen Pontypool, you’ve missed a very good film.   (I’m ALSO still um’ming and ah’ing about the 4 whole stars I gave it, it was that much of a toss up between 3.5 and 4.   I went with four, purely on the basis I’ve not shut up about it, since … !)

º        OK, it might not strictly be a whodunnit: I’ll leave the actually arguments to both regular movie night maven, Kevin D, and to regular commentor, Debbi Mack, who knows a thing or two about crime novels.

†        Very few films have the emotional tension of Silence of the Lambs, in my humble opinion‡ … !

‡        Yes, I know that’s possibly the SILLIEST phrase ever invented: I’m always thinking the only time people use it, is to actually say “This is my opinion on the matter: I’m right, you’re not, and nothing else need be said.”   Apart from when I do it, obviously … … … … … …

™        An unsolved series of murders … ?   An unfound killer … ?   And a series of letters to both press, police and assorted legal wonks, that take credit for the grisly deaths … ?

Ever heard the phrase deja vu?