The film "Zodiac" begins on the captivating night of July 4, 1969, when the notorious Zodiac killer launches his second violent attack, targeting Darlene Ferrin (played by Ciara Hughes) and Mike Mageau (portrayed by Lee Norris) at a secluded lovers' lane in Vallejo, California. Tragically, Ferrin succumbs to her injuries, while Mageau fortuitously survives.
Just a month later, the San Francisco Chronicle receives a chilling letter from the Zodiac, sparking intrigue in the newsroom. Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), a crime reporter for the Chronicle, finds himself drawn into the dark mystery. On the other hand, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), who serves as a political cartoonist at the newspaper, is desperate to get involved, but his enthusiasm is initially dismissed by Avery and the other editors.
As the Zodiac sends more encrypted taunts to the authorities and the media, Graysmith's artistic skills come into play when he cleverly cracks one of the codes. This piques Avery's interest as they share drinks in a bar, not far from their workspace. While sipping on Aqua Velvas, Avery opens up about the case, igniting a precarious alliance between the two.
The gruesome saga unfolds further with additional attacks from the Zodiac, including a brutal stabbing of Bryan Hartnell (portrayed by Patrick Scott Lewis) and Cecelia Shepard (played by Pell James) at Lake Berryessa. Hartnell makes it out alive, yet Shepard tragically does not. The escalating series of events culminates in the shocking murder of San Francisco cab driver Paul Stine, deepening the mystery.
The detectives on the case, including Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and his partner Bill Armstrong (played by Anthony Edwards), navigate through a labyrinth of clues and questionable suspects, including potential suspect Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch). While a handwriting expert suggests that Allen isn't the Zodiac, circumstantial evidence continues to stack against him. As tensions rise, Avery's mental state deteriorates under the stress of the case and the threats he receives from the Zodiac, leading him down a dark path of paranoia fueled by drugs and alcohol.
By 1978, the investigation takes its toll: Avery departs from the Chronicle, Armstrong steps away from homicide, and Toschi faces demotion due to allegations of forging a Zodiac letter. Meanwhile, Graysmith immerses himself in unraveling the case. His relentless pursuit leads him to uncover disturbing connections and witness accounts that cause him to obsess over the Zodiac's identity, which ultimately strains his marriage to Melanie (Chloë Sevigny).
Despite losing everything, Graysmith's persistence pays off as he earns Toschi's respect, pooling together evidence that hints at Allen's culpability. One fateful encounter in December 1983 at a Vallejo hardware store paints a chilling picture when Graysmith confronts Allen, who wears a name tag that reads “Lee.” This unsettling moment stays with Graysmith, casting a long shadow on his quest for answers.
Years later, in 1991, Mageau (Jimmi Simpson) captures the attention of authorities by identifying Allen from a police mugshot, reviving interest in the long-cold case. However, the final title cards reveal a somber conclusion: Allen passed away in 1992 before authorities could question him further, and DNA tests conducted in 2002 failed to align with the Zodiac's evidence.
With its gripping narrative, "Zodiac" intricately weaves the fear and obsession surrounding one of America's most infamous serial killers, leaving the audience questioning the true nature of justice and closure.
