"Zodiac," directed by David Fincher, is a meticulous crime thriller based on the true story of the infamous Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film provides an immersive exploration of obsession, fear, and the relentless pursuit of the truth.
The narrative is centered on the intricate and long-term investigation conducted by three main characters: Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a cartoonist at the San Francisco Chronicle; Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the Chronicle's crime reporter; and Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), an inspector with the San Francisco Police Department.
The Zodiac Killer, so named for the cryptic letters and ciphers he sent to the local newspapers, claimed numerous victims and left a trail of terror that puzzled investigators for decades. His letters taunted the police with information about the murders, alongside complex ciphers he claimed would reveal his identity.
Graysmith, Avery, and Toschi each become obsessed with the case in their own way. Avery's obsession leads him down a path of paranoia and substance abuse, while Toschi's relentless pursuit costs him his reputation when he's accused of forging a Zodiac letter. Graysmith's obsession drives him to write a book about the case, sacrificing his family life in the process.
Graysmith becomes the driving force in the investigation, dedicating years to deciphering the Zodiac's codes and meticulously piecing together clues. His efforts lead him to Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch), a man who seems to fit the profile and was previously questioned by police.
The film builds up suspense by offering compelling evidence pointing towards Allen, but never firmly establishing him as the killer. Despite Graysmith's conviction that Allen is the Zodiac, the lack of concrete evidence leaves the case unsolved.
"Zodiac" ends on an ambiguous note, reflecting the real-life mystery that remains unsolved to this day. The film is not only a thrilling account of one of the most notorious unsolved cases in the annals of American crime, but also a character study on obsession and its impact on those who get drawn into the labyrinth of an unsolvable mystery.