Zodiac (2008) Analysis

ZODIAC (2008) opening scene:

Zodiac is a psychological thriller film, based on the original, real-life serial killer, known as the zodiac killer who's written messages contained different transcripts of messages. 

This film also relates to my own film, as it’s based on the original zodiac killer, who’s been hidden amidst the shadows since his last murderers and his identify was only revealed earlier this year (2021).  As the killer’s info is scarce, and his motive was and still us unknown, it relates a lot to my film, as I wasn’t too sure whether the motive was unknown or known.

In the opening scene, the setting is first shown - San Francisco. The location looks 3D as though it's not real and completely CGI. 

The typography used is Futura light, and through a fade out of the characters, the original writing the zodiac used is then shown. 

The subtleness of the fade out, really helps build our understanding of the movie and it gives these fragments of knowledge slyly, as they’re only shown onscreen for a few seconds, before it fully fades out. 

The time in which it fades out and stays onscreen, show how fast the original zodiac killer was, both in terms of killings and picking out his victims.

The original zodiac killer used cipher font in his writings, and through his writings, he would essentially mock the authorities who were trying to catch him. He had symbols and encrypted codes in his messages, which were accustomed to him. 

This movie relates to my serial killer film, as my killer doesn’t really have much of a motive, and he merely kills for revenge (in a way). 

The killer’s identity is unknown, hence the name of zodiac - which the original killer used to address him as, “this is the zodiac…”

- Wide shot of location, San Francisco

- “4 weeks later” - opens with a flash forward 

- Uses Futura light font, often used in the original zodiac’s writing

- Provides the audience with information as to where the film is set. 

- Zumba/rhythmic background diegetic music

- The non-diegetic sound of the traffic and the bustling city comes into prominence as the drone shot moves forwards to the city. 

- Medium shot of main character’s notebook, which contains multiple drawings of different people, places and objects. What’s their significance? — Enigma codes, helps keeps the audience suspicious and wanting to watch on

- Match-on-action 

 

- Long shot of setting - San Francisco Chronicle — Newspaper 

- Tracking shot is used to show all the action happening

- Camera pans to the right and left, to start the 2 different narratives. 

 

- Long shot of setting — fragments of information 

- The surrounding buildings are shown, but they don’t look as they seem. 

- US mail truck passes by - emphasises the start of the next narrative

- Actors credits are shown, not disturbing the onscreen action 

- Long shot of US mail truck going into the San Francisco Chronicle 

- Actors credits are shown 

- Tracking shot is used 

- Long shot shown through a cut to the 1st narrative 

- Lots of people with their backs facing, all wearing mainly formal wear - unknown 

- Credits shown  

- Medium shot of man reacting — points to his sign

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- Medium shot of 2nd narrative 

- People sorting the props of mails 

- Tracking shot shows the mails, being dumped into the basket for editorial 

- High angle shot of the letter placed on the top of the, “Editorial”, section.

- Prop reads, “Please Rush to Editor!”, therefore connoting that the information inside the envelope is of utter importance (as it’s on the very top of the pile)

- The letter has the typical mail standards, in which the stamp is shown and the place of delivery.  

- Long shot of man delivering the letters — fragments of information are shown for the audience to obtain 

- The man’s identity is not shown, and only his body parts from his head down are shown. 

- Tracking shot is used 

- Lowkey lighting, shows the envelopes in the elevator.

- Tracking shot focuses on the envelope on the top. 

- Medium shot shown through a tracking shot of the main character walking into the office space

- Through mise-en-scene, his facial expressions and body language shows him to be trying to listen in to his colleagues conversation, as his head is turned to their direction and his eyes are facing downwards. 

- Pale white/peach colour tone around the office space 

- Long shot/point of view shot of the main character on his desk 

- Gives the audience information about the setting 

- Body language is rushed and frantic — suggesting he’s late for work

 Over-the-shoulder shot of the main characters drawings 

- Drawings are repeatedly shown, suggesting they’re important to him 

- He’s also placing the drawings together, as though he’s trying to decode it and understand its meanings.   

- Through mise-en-scene, his body language presents him as being rushed/in a hurry. 

- Tracking shot of the workplace, with the camera placed upon the letter box

- Shots are a bit shaky at times, with the shots being on the moving box. 

- As the camera is placed upon the letter box, it gives the idea that someone is watching the people, as the camera is all over the place, fully showing the setting. 

- Tracking shot of the people who will give out the envelopes 

- Camera is still placed upon the box, and is shown as though someone’s watching them, through a long shot.

- Characters are wearing formal attire, with ties and tucked in shirts. 

All the shots are repeatedly shown through a point of view shot/another person’s perspective, as the shots are always shown as though someone’s watching the main character. The camera also follows 2 different perspectives, as the main character leaves to go into his workplace; the camera then pans around to the next action scene, which is the US mail vehicle going into the San Francisco chronicle,