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IMDbPro

The Zodiac Killer

  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
804
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,913
8,660
The Zodiac Killer (1971)
HorrorMysteryThriller
The San Francisco area is beset by a series of seemingly random murders without motive or pattern. The police are taunted by phone calls and letters. Could the maniac be the violent, truck d... Read allThe San Francisco area is beset by a series of seemingly random murders without motive or pattern. The police are taunted by phone calls and letters. Could the maniac be the violent, truck driver, or the seemingly mild-mannered mailman, or even a cop?The San Francisco area is beset by a series of seemingly random murders without motive or pattern. The police are taunted by phone calls and letters. Could the maniac be the violent, truck driver, or the seemingly mild-mannered mailman, or even a cop?
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
804
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,913
8,660
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Tom Hanson
    • Writers
      • Ray Cantrell(screenplay)
      • Manny Cardoza(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Hal Reed
      • Bob Jones
      • Ray Lynch
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Tom Hanson
    • Writers
      • Ray Cantrell(screenplay)
      • Manny Cardoza(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Hal Reed
      • Bob Jones
      • Ray Lynch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:58
    Trailer

    Photos30

    The Sex Killer (1965)
    The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Arthur Porrine in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Hal Reed in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Dion Marinkovich in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Steve Harper in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Ray Lynch in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Tom Pittman in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Tom Hanson in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Bertha Dahl in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Bart Dempster in The Zodiac Killer (1971)
    Hans Klein in The Zodiac Killer (1971)

    Top cast

    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(screenplay)
      • Manny Cardoza(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    The Zodiac

    Storyline

    Edit

    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)

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    I I haven't seen it
    I haven't seen it but I find it funny that the zodiac killer probably watched it.
    helpful•3
    3
    • archiewharton
    • Jun 26, 2021

    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

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

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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