Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery film directed by David Fincher and based on Robert Graysmith's non-fiction book of the same name. The Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. joint production stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey, Jr. and Chloë Sevigny.
Zodiac tells the story of the hunt for a notorious serial killer known as "Zodiac" who killed in and around the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 1970s, leaving several victims in his wake and taunting police with letters and ciphers mailed to newspapers. The case remains one of San Francisco's most infamous unsolved crimes.
Fincher, screenwriter James Vanderbilt, and producer Brad Fischer spent 18 months conducting their own investigation and research into the Zodiac murders. During filming, Fincher employed the digital Thomson Viper Filmstream camera to shoot the film. Contrary to popular belief, Zodiac was not shot entirely digitally; traditional high-speed film cameras were used for slow-motion murder sequences.
Plot
A bus load of tourists, stranded in the desert, take shelter in a mystery town dedicated to serial killers. Hell breaks loose as they realize somehow these killers are very much alive and somehow back from the dead. Featuring John Wayne Gacy, Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Zodiac Killer and Jack the Ripper.
One night, six serial killers, one bus load of victims...
Plot
Alexander prefers to keep his talent hidden from the world, because nothing he paints seems worthy of his imagination. And then one night his imagination rebels. From the depths of a dreamless night, he wakes up to find himself chained to a strange, large chair in a strange, grand hall. In front of him, upon a high desk, a man wearing a purple old-fashioned tuxedo is staring at him steadily. He presents himself as The Collector (of neglected talents) and notifies Alexander that he has now reached the deadline of his birth-contract and his artistic gifts are to be taken away and buried in the Grave of Unfulfilled Desires. He offers him the usual courtesy of twelve extra hours, in which he must either create a masterpiece, or surrender all his artistic powers to the Collector's recycling plantation. The young artist sets to work right away, but his efforts are futile. Luckily for him an unexpected guide will appear and help him find his way through the maze of his imagination.
Plot
THE ZODIAC takes a different look at the famous Zodiac Killer case from other screen treatments of the murders. More than a simple crime story, the film is an emotional thriller focusing on the murders' impact on victims, their families and the wider community. The film follows a police detective and his son who become obsessed with the murders and endanger their family in the process.
Keywords: 1960s, based-on-true-story, california, car, christmas, encoded-message, gun, independent-film, killing-spree, lake
The most infamous serial killer of our time... is still out there.
Based On True Events
Plot
Sad sack Dustin Willoughby is a true believer in the power of astrology. His adherence to the forecasts of his horoscope has alienated his fiancée and cost him his job at the bank. While working as a lowly bus boy in a nightclub, he catches the attention of some high-stakes gamblers with his ability to forecast race results and establishes himself as an astrologer to high society clients.The high rollers mistakenly confuse his horoscope with that of professional boxer "The Salvador Slayer", and bet the ranch on the unknown Central-American pugilist. After they realize their error, they force Dustin into the ring to try and help save the day.
Keywords: animated-sequence, announcer, anthropomorphism, arrest, astrology, based-on-play, bazaar, beard, birthday, birthday-cake
The Nation's Greatest Ass-trologer!
Your Past Your Present Your Future all rolled into one big howl!
Bartender at Charity Bazarr: [with wine bottle] Shall I pour it sir?::Mr. Henry Basscombe: [sarcastically] What do you expect it to... sweat itself out?
Dustin Willoughby: [as Diane is leaving in a huff] Goodbye, Diane. Forget me and marry a Sagitarius.::Mr. Henry Basscombe: [angrily as he is leaving too through the door] She's gonna marry an American like her mother did!
Mr. Henry Basscombe: Are you going to marry my daughter?::Dustin Willoughby: Why we can't marry while Uranus faces Jupiter>::Mr. Henry Basscombe: [exasperated] Ih, we're gonna start that again? Hunh?::Dustin Willoughby: As a matter of fact, we shouldn't get narried at all.::Mrs. Fanny Basscombe: [clearly upset] Just a minute...!::Diane Basscombe: [shocked] Dustin... !::Dustin Willoughby: [trying to explain] Well, you see, she's earth, and I'm water. You mix the two and you get mud. What could we expect our children to be?
Larry Burke: Every time I try to make a date, one of your planets gets a stomach ache. I'm sick of it.::Dustin Willoughby: So are the planets.
Diane Basscombe: [noticing his black eye] Why, what happened to your eye?::Dustin Willoughby: [casually] Oh, forgetfulness.::Diane Basscombe: Forgetfulness?::Dustin Willoughby: I forgot to duck.
Judge O'Day: Where have I seen you before?::Dustin Willoughby: Well, I was at the army and navy game.