Saw this recently on a DVD. Having background information about the Zodiac n having seen Fincher's excellent Zodiac multiple times, i decided to watch this. Obsession apart, honestly, the trailer was very enticing but the movie wasn't. This film is about a couple who gets hold of some snuff footage linking it to the Zodiac. They along with the help of a friend, decide to track down the true identity of the Zodiac and claim the long offered reward money that could change all their lives. The movie opens with a re-creation of one of the Zodiac's murder—an attack on a couple parked in a car on the side of a road in San Francisco a la David Fincher's Zodiac. This movie relied more on the silly investigation as opposed to the actual murders committed by the Zodiac Killer. Even the investigation was kinda meh. The connection between the snuff footage and the Zodiac killer is concluded very easily by the trio. The premise of the film was very good. The film reels are discovered in a small town in Virginia where the couple reside in a trailer. The Zodiac killings happened in San Francisco. How did those reels get there all the way from San Francisco? The Zodiac going into hibernation? The film also has some decent cinematography, likable characters n acting. But the suspense n tension was lacking leading it to a dull n meh kinda ending.
34 Reviews
Trailer sleuths.
js-661309 June 2017
The real life, unsolved Bay Area Zodiac killer case gets a fictional exhumation four decades after the murderous spree, when a trio of junk collectors stumble upon canisters of incriminating film. This clever retro take on the YouTube crime clip phenomena presents our innocents with a chance at a $100,000 reward. And we're off.
For the most part, this is a terrifyingly terrific movie, full of creepy, shadowy scenes, hair- raising tension and clever comedic quips. Our trio of trailer trash Sherlocks are very engaging as they stagger into a complicated and dangerous world, not so much for possible riches, but also for adventure. Taunting cryptogram clues, a sinister hood, and creepy voice messages; the Zodiac put the "K" in killer.
Great stuff, but it is almost ruined with a messy, straight forward, by the numbers, uninspiring climax. Which in turn is then inexplicably thrown under the bus with an attempt at an open ended, confusing conclusion. It really does suffer from a proper wrap. "Awakening The Zodiac" needs a rewrite tweak focusing more on mystery than monster. Still a pretty good thrill ride.
For the most part, this is a terrifyingly terrific movie, full of creepy, shadowy scenes, hair- raising tension and clever comedic quips. Our trio of trailer trash Sherlocks are very engaging as they stagger into a complicated and dangerous world, not so much for possible riches, but also for adventure. Taunting cryptogram clues, a sinister hood, and creepy voice messages; the Zodiac put the "K" in killer.
Great stuff, but it is almost ruined with a messy, straight forward, by the numbers, uninspiring climax. Which in turn is then inexplicably thrown under the bus with an attempt at an open ended, confusing conclusion. It really does suffer from a proper wrap. "Awakening The Zodiac" needs a rewrite tweak focusing more on mystery than monster. Still a pretty good thrill ride.
Half of a decent movie.
starr-6531917 March 2020
I would go on about the number of stupid things the protagonists do, but even with that, the first half was good and well paced. But the last half, especially the last quarter was so ridiculous you were rooting for the Zodiac killer. Approach this if you want to pass some time but don't expect a masterpiece. And the ending? Don't get me started.
The characters are imbeciles!!
pediatricgrime16 November 2017
The most stupid characters I've ever seen! The girlfriend didn't even understand how a cipher works! The boyfriend wanted to fight everyone. The killer was a genius in his day, now he made huge mistakes. How is that plausible? Only positives were cinematography, score and editing, I suppose... Avoid at all costs, unless you want to actually lose some IQ-points!
So dumb it hurts
JessMazo-110 September 2018
Ever see a character who is just so dumb it hurts. You're torn struggling between stupidity rooting for a protagonist and having the murderer kill her? Well Leslie Bibb pulls this off magnificently. All of the stupidity of trailer park barbie just marches you down a trail while her hillbilly boyfriend is going bringing a shovel to a gun fight. Seriously? All of this dumb contained in one movie. I can deal with things that aren't plausible. I mean it's a movie suspension of disbelief is pretty standard, but when the characters do such nonsensical things it's hard to care.
What should have been an average thriller with a decent mystery are buried by the stupidity and just annoying characters.
Rooting for the Zodiac Killer
suzy-6316 June 2017
I went out of my way to go to a late night showing of this film. I've been fascinated with the mystery behind the Zodiac killer. There were inaccuracies on some of the facts about the real Zodiac killer, but I wasn't really expecting it to be 100% true to facts anyway. I knew it was fictionalized story and though it would be interesting.
Now my review: Great combination of poor writing and acting. Save your money on this one folks. The film was so bad that half way through the movie I was rooting for the Zodiac to kill off the idiot lead actor and actress. Very disappointing.
Now my review: Great combination of poor writing and acting. Save your money on this one folks. The film was so bad that half way through the movie I was rooting for the Zodiac to kill off the idiot lead actor and actress. Very disappointing.
Great story idea
penni-1117 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I like the 3 three main actors so I was really glad we found this on Hulu. It was suspenseful and a clever story idea. Good action movie until the last scene. That was the dumbest way to end this movie. Why oh why did they do that??
I'm not sure why this movie was made or why I decided to watch it
amariesco-3926429 July 2018
I have a Master's degree in Forensic Science, so true crime interests me. I've read Robert Graysmith's books on the Zodiac killer, and I believe he was right on with who he thought the Zodiac was (DNA test did not match the stamps on the letters to the Chronicle, but there could be a number of reasons for that).
Actually I had no idea what kind of movie (documentary or fiction) when I added it on hold from the library. They don't give you an online synopsis of the film at the library. I was hoping for documentary, but instead I watched bad acting and an implausibly scripted movie. The only thing they included that was correct, was that the Zodiac killer was in San Francisco and murdered Paul Stine, the cab driver, there. Nothing else in this movie was remotely plausible or interesting.
Actually I had no idea what kind of movie (documentary or fiction) when I added it on hold from the library. They don't give you an online synopsis of the film at the library. I was hoping for documentary, but instead I watched bad acting and an implausibly scripted movie. The only thing they included that was correct, was that the Zodiac killer was in San Francisco and murdered Paul Stine, the cab driver, there. Nothing else in this movie was remotely plausible or interesting.
A Tense Thriller
nebk10 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Awakening The Zodiac is a tense thriller and definitely worth a watch. It stars Shane West and Leslie Bibb as Mick and Zoe Branson, a down on their luck couple trying to make ends meet. To Zoe's chagrin they end up buying a storage locker with their friend and pawn shop owner Harvey (played by Matt Craven). Whilst there is not much of value in the locker there are two old 8 mm reels of film showing footage of the Zodiac Killer murdering his victims in the 1960's. The trio then decides to try and track down the Zodiac Killer in order to collect the $ 100 000 reward offered for his discovery and/or capture. This proves to be a highly hazardous endeavor.
The story and directing are good and for the most part there is a high level of tension that leaves you wondering who the Zodiac is. The overall cast is solid and the supporting roles provided by Stephen McHattie, Kenneth Walsh and Nicholas Campbell are all above average. Not surprising given the fact that they have close to six hundred acting credits amongst them. When the identity of the Zodiac is revealed the movie shifts gears from a tense mystery to an an action thriller in the last ten or so minutes.
Whilst the movie is not perfect, most of problems occur at the end especially in the closing scenes. And whilst some aspects of the story are far fetched given the age of the Zodiac and the fact that a landscaper and a hairdresser and a pawn shop broker found him when no one else could, overall the movie is definitely worth a watch. If the movie ended slightly differently and without the last scene it would have been even better though.
The story and directing are good and for the most part there is a high level of tension that leaves you wondering who the Zodiac is. The overall cast is solid and the supporting roles provided by Stephen McHattie, Kenneth Walsh and Nicholas Campbell are all above average. Not surprising given the fact that they have close to six hundred acting credits amongst them. When the identity of the Zodiac is revealed the movie shifts gears from a tense mystery to an an action thriller in the last ten or so minutes.
Whilst the movie is not perfect, most of problems occur at the end especially in the closing scenes. And whilst some aspects of the story are far fetched given the age of the Zodiac and the fact that a landscaper and a hairdresser and a pawn shop broker found him when no one else could, overall the movie is definitely worth a watch. If the movie ended slightly differently and without the last scene it would have been even better though.
Absolutely a Waste
svbeasley21 March 2020
The characters are so dumb in this film. How do you not know how a cipher works?! Ugh these characters are ridiculous. Acting out of pure emotions and not giving any thought whatsoever to their actions. Dumbest characters ever.
Now this I like
jtindahouse15 June 2017
At one point while watching 'Awakening the Zodiac' I thought to myself, this is such a good idea, how has nobody done this before now? Then I realised that that is how unoriginal and unimaginative Hollywood has become. Any idea that is remotely fresh is utterly bizarre and unfounded to us. The fact that I had that thought about this movie indicates just how clever of an idea it is. Anyone can have a serial killer in their movie, but to base it around one that actually existed in real life and was never caught is downright smart. And it works. The hunt for this killer is genuinely intriguing and it all adds up to a very enjoyable film.
The only faults I could see in the movie were the odd character decision being a little out of place, and a scene or two missing (assumably to cut down the run time). Other than that it's a very tightly put together little production. The acting is impressive, the story moves along nicely with decent pacing and the concept is more than interesting enough to keep the audience captivated. I was very impressed with 'Awakening the Zodiac'.
The only faults I could see in the movie were the odd character decision being a little out of place, and a scene or two missing (assumably to cut down the run time). Other than that it's a very tightly put together little production. The acting is impressive, the story moves along nicely with decent pacing and the concept is more than interesting enough to keep the audience captivated. I was very impressed with 'Awakening the Zodiac'.
Missed Potential
jviers7717 May 2018
This would've been better as a straight horror/thriller film instead of trying to tie the story to Zodiac. The filmmakers missed on too many facts from the real case, and in the end turned the killer into an almost supernatural entity. Fairly enjoyable, but the Zodiac angle fell completely flat.
Some style, no substance
thebucketrider14 September 2017
Quite a vacuous film about a trio of scavengers who chance upon footage of the Zodiac killer's crimes decades later and attempt to track him down to claim a reward. It manages to hold the viewer's interest for a while by generating the expectation that something will happen but very little does for most of the film and when the killer finally appears and interacts with the protagonists, this has little logical connection with what has gone on before. Usually, when mysteries introduce only one suspect, it's a cinch that that suspect is the killer, but this film bucks that trend: the killer is some random person who we know nothing about even after the film ends. There are any number of loose ends the narrative doesn't even attempt to tie.
It was ok for a filler movie.....
mockrom-603937 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
.... But what I need to know is: Did Zoe call the Zodiac Killer grandpa?! I rewound it twice to make sure I heard it correctly. He came so far from left field, knowing nothing about him, and then she calls him grandpa with no explanation?! I don't know. Love the actors/actresses, but the story line - towards the end - sucked.
It's a very good movie if you want to lower your IQ score.
onurkaraman-6713410 August 2020
For the first time in my life, I wanted characters killed by the killer.The script is ridiculous and poor quality.I feel stupid for watching this movie to the end.Also, if I had such a wife in real life, I would get divorced.Though such a man deserves such a woman.I hope you won't waste time watching this movie. Also, there were people who liked this movie. People who like this movie are people with low IQ scores.
I enjoyed it.
subxerogravity13 June 2017
It's That eerie kind of spooky. Doesn't really make you jump just spooks you out. They're solving the case as if though they were watching a horror movie. The more they discover about the killer the more it unwinds them, but unlike us they have genuine concern.
Awaking the Zodiac takes a new spin on the Zodiac killer with the concept that he's been hiding out for 40 years, and somehow a couple in a rural part of Virginia come across his old films of his murders, and force him out of hiding. Kind of like the idea that they take something that actually happen and turned it into their own fiction.
Was OK movie. Really like how the whole thing was laid out. Not a bad mystery at all. I liked how everything unfolded.
http://cinemagardens.com/
Awaking the Zodiac takes a new spin on the Zodiac killer with the concept that he's been hiding out for 40 years, and somehow a couple in a rural part of Virginia come across his old films of his murders, and force him out of hiding. Kind of like the idea that they take something that actually happen and turned it into their own fiction.
Was OK movie. Really like how the whole thing was laid out. Not a bad mystery at all. I liked how everything unfolded.
http://cinemagardens.com/
Weak, unengaging, implausible thriller
grantss18 March 2018
Over 40 years since the infamous Zodiac killer terrorised inhabitants of San Francisco and surrounds, three people make an amazing discovery. They stumble across homemade films made by the Zodiac Killer, films of some of his murders. In an attempt to claim a large reward, rather than alert the police, they try to track down the killer themselves. This puts them in danger.
Pretty lame B-grade (at best) thriller. When I read the film summary I figured the movie was set in the 1960s, when the Zodiac Killer was at the peak of his infamy, making the danger more tangible. Having seen the excellent David Fincher-directed 2007 movie, Zodiac, I thought this may be something along those lines.
When I discovered it was actually set in 2017, my heart sank. Even if the killer is still alive, he's in their late-60s, at least, so what kind of thriller is this going to be? A dull, implausible, contrived one, I thought, and I was right.
Unoriginal, filled with every thriller/horror cliché, implausible, predictable, unengaging and quite dull. The Zodiac element was just a ploy to suck viewers in.
Avoid.
Pretty lame B-grade (at best) thriller. When I read the film summary I figured the movie was set in the 1960s, when the Zodiac Killer was at the peak of his infamy, making the danger more tangible. Having seen the excellent David Fincher-directed 2007 movie, Zodiac, I thought this may be something along those lines.
When I discovered it was actually set in 2017, my heart sank. Even if the killer is still alive, he's in their late-60s, at least, so what kind of thriller is this going to be? A dull, implausible, contrived one, I thought, and I was right.
Unoriginal, filled with every thriller/horror cliché, implausible, predictable, unengaging and quite dull. The Zodiac element was just a ploy to suck viewers in.
Avoid.
Waste of 100 minutes....
tillskills17 January 2020
Horrible movie. I had to fast forward through a lot. Leslie was the only reason I chose to watch it. Everyone except the dude "Harvey" had a crap script. Bolt action rifle suddenly turns into a semiautomatic. I'm no director but I guarantee I'd have done better. Details guy jeez. Or maybe I'm just OCD?
Fantastic - and I kinda know what it feels like
willy981230 October 2021
This movie "sings to me". I published my first scientific paper based on hawk nesting records kept by a local naturalist and kept in his basement for over 30 years by the time I got to see them. So I know what that feeling of discovery in a dusty storage unit "feels like".
As for the movie itself, there's nothing special about the acting, the locations or anything else to set this one apart...but I thought the premise was good. Matt Craven played a convincing role and Stephen McHattie made for a convincingly scary "Zodiac". The Canadian filiming locations were also convincingly "not Canadian".
For me, this ranks nicely on the spectrum of "serial killer" movies somewhere between Citizen X (1995), Seven (1995), the Silence of the Lambs (1991) and "Zodiac" (2007).
I ofen watch movies and then use the internet to "learn more". This one made me want to "learn a LOT more" about a subject that was only "mildly interesting" to me beforehand. Hence my ranking.
As for the movie itself, there's nothing special about the acting, the locations or anything else to set this one apart...but I thought the premise was good. Matt Craven played a convincing role and Stephen McHattie made for a convincingly scary "Zodiac". The Canadian filiming locations were also convincingly "not Canadian".
For me, this ranks nicely on the spectrum of "serial killer" movies somewhere between Citizen X (1995), Seven (1995), the Silence of the Lambs (1991) and "Zodiac" (2007).
I ofen watch movies and then use the internet to "learn more". This one made me want to "learn a LOT more" about a subject that was only "mildly interesting" to me beforehand. Hence my ranking.
Nice idea but really bad execution
sundawn20 February 2018
I'll make this a short review since there is a couple longer ones already.
Basically, a young couple and their friend decide to track down the zodiac killer to receive the $100.000 reward, so they start investigating.
However, their behavior is absolutely ridiculous with no sense for consequences and danger at all. They have the maturity of toddlers and the intelligence you would expect from the average, stereotypical victims in horrormovies.
This is very frustrating since the movie and the basic plot sound really good and could've easily made an 8/10 movie if executed well.
I'd recommend the movie if you're looking for light entertainment and don't get fed up by the protagonists making predictable decisions.
The movie itself is alright but you can't watch it without rooting for the bad guy because the protagonists are absolute morons and poorly written.
Not even mentioning the end which is poor garbage and doesn't wrap up the film at all - pretty fitting for the movie...
Basically, a young couple and their friend decide to track down the zodiac killer to receive the $100.000 reward, so they start investigating.
However, their behavior is absolutely ridiculous with no sense for consequences and danger at all. They have the maturity of toddlers and the intelligence you would expect from the average, stereotypical victims in horrormovies.
This is very frustrating since the movie and the basic plot sound really good and could've easily made an 8/10 movie if executed well.
I'd recommend the movie if you're looking for light entertainment and don't get fed up by the protagonists making predictable decisions.
The movie itself is alright but you can't watch it without rooting for the bad guy because the protagonists are absolute morons and poorly written.
Not even mentioning the end which is poor garbage and doesn't wrap up the film at all - pretty fitting for the movie...
Should Have Been Better
oscarstein-973149 July 2017
A great idea gets lost in this amateurish film. After a pedestrian prelude depicting the shooting deaths of a couple parked on a lovers' lane in 1968 Northern California.
Years later in present day Virginia, where Mick (Shane West) and Zoe Branson (Leslie Bibb) are struggling to make it!
They buy abandoned storage lockers along with their friend. One day they buy a locker and they think they come across contents of the Zodiac killer. Because the case is "Still Open" the reward is still there for the taking.
When they find out who owned the locker there troubles begin and end up playing a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Should have been better.
Years later in present day Virginia, where Mick (Shane West) and Zoe Branson (Leslie Bibb) are struggling to make it!
They buy abandoned storage lockers along with their friend. One day they buy a locker and they think they come across contents of the Zodiac killer. Because the case is "Still Open" the reward is still there for the taking.
When they find out who owned the locker there troubles begin and end up playing a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Should have been better.
Not accurate with the true story
rocknrollhippie9 September 2019
I understand that this isn't about what really happened, but if you are going to make a movie about the Zodiac killer, a very well known mystery. You might want to make it a little more realistic and stick to most of the facts about the killer. Otherwise those of us who are interested in the mystery of the zodiac and people's theories of him, will be disappointed with a movie that completely disregards any truth in the story line.
Promising first half, mediocre second half.
Protecious28 August 2019
This film had a lot of promise, I was really into the concept and story of this film, however it completely derails about half way through and just submits itself to a cliche plot, with no real surprises with it's reveal of the killer.
Great acting in this film, I like the performances of the two leads (including Leslie Bibb).
This would be an ideal film to remake and just re-write the other half.
Geniune creepy moments, but slowly falls apart into a mess of a film.
Films like this frustrate me more than horrible films because there's a great concept but it falls apart.
complete crap
rainmann-917858 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
this was complete garbage... at the end when they had killed him like 100% killed him and then you saw the news where it says its 4 weeks later. then you see them with fresh wounds and then it's like the guy never died. that's just a very small part of what was wrong little things throughout the entire film made this absolute garbage and I'm sad ever watched this film
Disappointing film
fmperiset26 June 2020
I shall be brief. 'Awakening the Zodiac' is a deeply flawed film which suffers from many different problems such as uninteresting characters with whom it is hard for the viewer to empathise, ridiculous creative choices, weak acting, a frustrating lack of tension and suspense, a lame and predictable plot which wastes the little potential the story's central premise could have had, uninspired pieces of dialogue, unrealistic action sequences and poor execution overall. The result is an untidy story with no substance. Everything feels hollow, dull and passionless. These factors alone make it a painful and terrifying experience for the viewer in the worst possible sense of the expression. The main virtue of this profoundly unsatisfactory film is that it is a powerful reminder of the sheer superiority of David Fincher's excellent take on the Zodiac killer.
Grade: 2.1 / 10
Grade: 2.1 / 10
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