People love mysteries and the greatest payoff of watching a
mystery movie is how they uncover it in the end. In the case of a murder
mystery people wait till the end to see who the killer is. But what about the
movies that ends without solving the mystery?
David Fincher’s Zodiac is a murder mystery that disturbs the
audiences with its ambiguous ending. Did they find the killer? May be yes, may
be no. Because the audiences are denied the privilege of a payoff the movie
will stay with them even after finishing. Zodiac, for sure, will stay with the
viewers for a long time.
Based on real-life Zodiac murders
Zodiac is documentation of the investigation into the
real-life murders committed by a man popularly known as ‘the Zodiac Killer’ in
California from the late 1960’s to early ‘70s. To this date the serial killer
is known only as ‘Zodiac Killer’ as the police failed to crack his identity.
Zodiac the movie
Clint Eastwood’s 1971 crime thriller Dirty Harry had
attempted to capture the ‘Zodiac Killer’ onscreen. But, it was a regular
thriller movie. A cat and mouse game in which the criminal gets the punishment
he deserves at the movie’s end.
David Fincher’s Zodiac nods to Dirty Harry in a scene where Dave
Toschi (Mark Ruffallo), the detective investigating the killings, watches the
movie in a theater. He walks away before the climax. A colleague comments
“Dave, Harry Callaghan (Eastwood) solved your case.”
That comment marks the difference between the two movies
that deal with the same subject. Fincher’s Zodiac is both a police procedural
and contemplation about the questionable nature of truth. It is also a
fascinating document about the psychology of ‘criminal minds.’
The game of a serial killer
The Zodiac killer sends a letter to the newspaper San
Francisco Chronicle after committing the murders. He confesses the killings but
prefers to be identified as ‘Zodiac’. He gives many clues that may help them
decipher his identity in the form of ciphers.
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| The Zodiac cipher |
Reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) takes up the story
of the Zodiac killings. Cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) develops
a fascination for the letter and he is curious about the case.
The movie shows multiple investigations for the same guy.
Paul Avery, Dave Toschi and his partner William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards),
Sergeant Jack Mulanax (Elias Koteas) and many others are conducting
investigations.
As the killings
happen in many districts, the investigators are always in motion to collect
evidences. The movie thus becomes a journey too, from one jurisdiction to
other.
David Fincher’s vision
David Fincher’s unique style and vision elevates the movie
into a masterpiece. David Fincher is a master director known for his attention
to details.
Since the movie is based on true incidents Fincher was
strict about adhering to the historic timeline of events. He recreated the San
Francisco of the time when the events occurred.
Fincher was also keen about recreating the costumes of the
actual victims of the zodiac killer. Casey Storm, the designer of Zodiac, did
research on the police files. The movie recreated victim Darlene Ferrin’s blue
floral jumpsuit and costumes of other people connected to the killings.
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| Darlene Ferrin’s blue floral jumpsuit |
Fincher defined each character clearly, giving them a
distinct individuality. The newsroom in Zodiac is the most accurate depiction
of newsroom seen in the movies.
As years pass Zodiac is likely to remain David Fincher’s
best film, even though he has some other masterpieces in his oeuvre: The Social
Network, Seven, Gone Girl and Fight Club.
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