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The Zodiac Killer

  • 1971
  • R
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
The Zodiac Killer (1971)
HorrorMysteryThriller

A serial killer in San Francisco murders without motive or apparent pattern and taunts the police with phone calls and letters.A serial killer in San Francisco murders without motive or apparent pattern and taunts the police with phone calls and letters.A serial killer in San Francisco murders without motive or apparent pattern and taunts the police with phone calls and letters.

  • Director
    • Tom Hanson
  • Writers
    • Ray Cantrell
    • Manny Cardoza
  • Stars
    • Hal Reed
    • Bob Jones
    • Ray Lynch
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.4/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tom Hanson
    • Writers
      • Ray Cantrell
      • Manny Cardoza
    • Stars
      • Hal Reed
      • Bob Jones
      • Ray Lynch
    • 32User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:58
    Trailer

    Photos37

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    Top cast56

    Edit
    Hal Reed
    Hal Reed
    • Jerry
    Bob Jones
    Bob Jones
    • Grover
    Ray Lynch
    Ray Lynch
    • Sgt. Pittman
    Tom Pittman
    Tom Pittman
    • Officer Heller
    Mary Darrington
    • First Murder
    Frank Sanabek
    • Joe
    Ed Quigley
    • Tony
    Bertha Dahl
    Bertha Dahl
    • Mrs. Crocker
    Dion Marinkovich
    Dion Marinkovich
    • Helen
    Doodles Weaver
    Doodles Weaver
    • Doc
    • (as Doddles Weaver)
    Gloria Gunn
    • Marilyn
    Richard Styles
    • Judd
    Manny Cardoza
    • Hippy
    • (as Manny Cordoza)
    Norma Takaki
    Norma Takaki
    • Lakey
    Donna Register
    Donna Register
    • Donna
    Barbara Schillaci
    • Barbara
    Edna DeHart
    Edna DeHart
    • Susan
    Bobette Holman
    • Man in Bar #1
    • Director
      • Tom Hanson
    • Writers
      • Ray Cantrell
      • Manny Cardoza
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    4.41K
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    Featured reviews

    7RanchoTuVu

    good for connoisseurs of films like this

    A cheapo expose on the Zodiac murders that occurred in the San Francisco Bay area in 1968 and 1969 that benefits from its year of release in 1971, not too far removed, the stringent budget which lends the project a degree of authenticity, as well as the focus on who the film portrays as the killer, a postal clerk who loves rabbits, and buries one that died near a cross, in a strikingly bizarre scene. Compared with the film that came out in 2007, this one stands up pretty well, especially for connoisseurs of films like this, no-budget but an eye for creativity. It made it on to the TCM Underground films, a wise decision by the program director.
    sifujon

    Has some memorable lines.

    First saw this one in the 80s and recommended it to some of my friends. Everyone has enjoyed it so far. The casting, acting, dialogue and sets combine for many hilarious moments. I had to get my own copy of this one.
    5emint1292

    An interesting piece of Zodiac history

    Directed by Tom Hanson, who had previously owned a chain of Pizza Man restaurants, THE ZODIAC KILLER was made to capture the real- life Zodiac Killer. That plan didn't work. Instead, we got the most outrageous and compelling "tabloid horror" vortex in the history of planet Earth. And beyond. During theatrical screenings, Hanson constructed in- theater "traps" to lure the killer from hiding. These included the use of an ice cream freezer filled with rent-a-cops and a raffle with a motorcycle as a prize. You won't get insight like this by watching a David Fincher movie. But you will get it while watching THE ZODIAC KILLER.

    Read the fascinating true story behind the film here: http://zodiactruecrime.ew.com
    ehoshaw

    Cheesy and cheap

    This 1971 horror/crime film is really low-budget. The acting is bad and the direction is flat. It doesn't really shed any new insight into the Zodiac case. It basically is just 86 minutes of people getting shot, stabbed, sliced, beaten, and killed in a a variety of bloody ways. Pretty much all the names of the victims have been changed and we know who the killer is early on, and it basically just follows him as he claims his victims. It is pretty boring, has bad music, and lots of cheesy 70s fashions (I just love the part with that guy's wig at the beginning, haha!). The scene with the sunbathers getting stabbed to death in the woods is creepy and bloody, but everything else is laughable. "The Zodiak Killer" is a cheap, low-budget effort that some may like and others may despise.
    EyeAskance

    Sleazy proto-slasher, less interesting than its intended raison-dêtre

    A slapdash indie production made to cash in on, and potentially aid in the capture of the still-unidentified "Zodiac" killer who paralyzed the San Francisco Bay Area with fear for two years. In this illusory concoction, the killer's identity is no mystery, as we are introduced to him formally as a seemingly mild-mannered mail carrier who loves his pet guinea pigs, and occasionally worships at a chintzy Satanic altar in his apartment.

    Despite some intermittent unintended chuckles, this film actually imparts a few fairly potent violent murder scenarios. It might actually be worth a look for patient crime thriller and grindhouse horror enthusiasts, with the understanding that it has little foothold in factuality. Additionally, the backstory of its production makes it something of a novelty, as it was hoped that the film might rouse the interest of the killer, potentially leading to his identification and apprehension. Though this plan ultimately failed, I like to think that he did see the film...he'd surely be pretty miffed that his evil reign of terror was reduced to cheesy, low-budget exploitation fodder(*snicker...).

    4.5/10.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Tom Hanson rented the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and premiered the film on April 7th, 1971 with the intention of luring the real Zodiac Killer to one of the screenings. Kawasaki sponsored the event, and offered a motorcycle as a prize to the audience member who wrote the best answer to "I believe the Zodiac kills because..." on yellow cards that were handed out at the door. Hanson set up a team of people to analyze each entry for handwriting that matched that of the killer, and planned to confront them in the lobby if a match was found.

      One particular night, Hanson encountered a man who according to him closely resembled the famous wanted poster sketch and had submitted more than one entry, despite warning the staff against providing multiple ones per person. Due to the fact that the employee who was concealed in the submission box was incapacitated; Hanson had some other employees present seize the man, who reportedly didn't even act surprised when grabbed. Hanson then personally confronted him, claiming to be Zodiac victim Paul Stine's brother. The man nonchalantly responded that he was sorry to hear about Stine's murder, and ultimately, he was let go. The next day, Hanson found that the man was staying in a nearby hotel, and was apparently a Vietnam veteran. He was convinced that the man was The Zodiac and even claims to have received several letters from the killer later on, which were confiscated by the Police. Since the contest to win the motorcycle was largely a sham, no one ever "won" the prize, and Hanson eventually gave it away to a friend of his.
    • Goofs
      The police car that responds to the cabbie murder has no insignia on the door.
    • Quotes

      Doc: I like 'em plump and juicy and dumb!

    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Zodiak Killer
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Adventure Productions (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $13,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $34
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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