The Best Serial Killer Thriller True Story Is On Peacock
When it comes to true crime stories being given dramatized big-screen adaptations, the options are seemingly endless. Patty Jenkins delivered the tale of Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s Monster, while Marc Meyers told the lesser-known story of the younger years of Jeffrey Dahmer’s life in 2017’s My Friend Dahmer. But if you’re looking for an on-point telling of one of the most notorious and uncaptured killers out there in a production that features an all-star cast, look no further than Peacock as Zodiac is now streaming.
David Fincher At The Top Of His Game
Filmmaker David Fincher has never shied away from making productions based around serial killers – just look at his 1995 flick Se7en or his Netflix series, Mindhunter. But with Zodiac, the director delivered his magnum opus (or at least one of them) when he delved into the true story of a handful of men chasing down the depraved killer.
Striking incredibly close to home, the movie got most of its plot from the non-fiction books Zodiac and Zodiac Unmasked, both of which were written by Robert Graysmith, who appears as the leading character in Fincher’s film.
The Golden Age Of Serial Killers
It’s San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the summer of love has come and gone. Instead, it’s been replaced by serial killers like the Manson family and a new and identified slayer known only as the Zodiac, thanks to his ciphers and cryptic messages to the law enforcement officials hunting him down.
The Incredible Main Cast
At the center of Fincher’s story is Jake Gyllenhaal’s Robert Graysmith, a political cartoonist working for the San Francisco Chronicle who intercepts one of the Zodiac’s bizarre letters and can’t help but get embroiled in the case.
Along with his fellow journalist, Robert Downey Jr.’s Paul Avery (who would later go on to cover the infamous case of Patty Hearst), Graysmith dives deeper and deeper into the string of Zodiac killings.
While the extra eyes and helping hands may seem to be helpful, both Avery and Graysmith soon become a thorn in the side of the case’s two leading investigators, Mark Ruffalo’s Dave Toschi and Anthony Edwards’ Bill Armstrong. Trying to stop the next murder before it happens, the four men go on the hunt for the killer, who just can’t seem to be stopped.
Deserved A Better Theatrical Run
Fincher’s perfectly executed true crime film also features the talents of other big names in the biz, including Brian Cox (Succession), Chloë Sevigny (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans), Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding), and more.
Despite a killer lineup of talent, a fan-favorite director, and the story of one of the most infamous unsolved cases in the history of the United States, Zodiac failed to draw in the box office sales it needed. By the time the movie left theaters, the movie had only raked in $84.7 million against its $65-85 million budget.
Catch The Modern Classic On Peacock
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But now, Peacock subscribers have the chance to reinvigorate the hunt by streaming Zodiac from the comfort of their own homes, bringing a fresh set of eyes and a new generation to one of Fincher’s most undersung films. If you’re a true crime fan or even someone who loves a good edge-of-your-seat thriller, we couldn’t suggest Zodiac enough for your next creepy movie night.
