 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Zodiac
- Review Date: July 23, 2007
- R
- Genre: Thriller
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Notorious case inspires dark, sinuous thriller.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this three-hour movie about the investigation into a string of real-life serial murders during the early 1970s is too violent and disturbing for most teens (and probably even some adults). While some violence takes place off screen, what does appear is brutal and bloody: The Zodiac shoots a couple in their car, stabs another couple in the back (the victims' pained, horrified faces are shown both times), and shoots a cabbie. Police officers and reporters discuss the deaths in some detail. Characters drink heavily and smoke frequently (one also uses hard drugs). References are made to the killer's "latent homosexuality" and a suspect's pedophilia. Language includes repeated uses of "f--k."
What's the story?
An intelligent, sinuous mystery, ZODIAC is less interested in sensational violence than in the ways that the media affects such violence. Based on the notorious, still-unsolved early-1970s Zodiac murders in the San Francisco area, the movie focuses first on efforts to figure out the murderer's motives and then on the ways that the Zodiac "imagined" himself into public consciousness by writing letters to the San Francisco Chronicle and leaving clues to taunt the police. The film begins with a murder -- the first one for which the killer took public credit. After the shooting, Zodiac calls the police and sends a letter to the Chronicle, demonstrating -- in his mind, anyway -- that he's smarter than all of them. As he uses the media to "make himself up," the movie considers the effects of the case on those who pursue him, including Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and his partner, Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards); as well as earnest cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) and brilliantly self-destructive crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.). They run into problems at every turn, from law enforcement officials in different jurisdictions who don't want to work together to handwriting experts, fingerprinters, and even celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli (Brian Cox). With egos getting in the way, only rudimentary technologies to work with, and legal impediments, no one cracks the case, and everyone loses themselves to it.
Is it any good?
David Fincher's excellent movie includes several violent murder scenes (a stabbing is especially grisly), but it's more interested in the consequences of the brutality: crime scenes, investigative procedures, fear in the community. In a mess of intersecting obsessions and deceptions, Zodiac finds remarkable coherence, tracing the similar needs, means, and fictions that structure truth.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the media's relationship with serial killers. How do the killers use the media to gain attention? How do the media use the killers to gain ratings? How do viewers and readers respond to such coverage? Think about how movies portray killers and their pursuers: Unlike The Silence of the Lambs, this movie focuses on the investigation, with very little information about the killer. How does that affect the film's narrative and displays of violence? Is violence more effective when it's shown, or when it's implied? Why?
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AGE
I hope my review syas 15 and up
I would make it R For Some strong killing/violence, graphic language, pervasive drug material and a couple sexual images.
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AGE
It was iffy.
This movie is very viotent for younger teens. It also says a curse word about every minute of the movie. I would not let you kid see it unless you have a talk with your kid before he or she see's Zodiac. There was also a part with Pornoagraphy. It is a good movie for adults not kids.
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AGE
Well I think a 15 year-od could see it with me so I can skip scens.
I loved it and so did my 15 year old daughter but no one younger.
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AGE
Great!
This was a very informative movie on the killer, and an amazing movie. A little long, but very good overall.
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AGE
ZODIAC
i think zodiac is a very good movie it is not at all scary what so ever. there is a few scenes where u see alot of blood like on a car door people being stabbed and the zodiac killer killing someone in the head. it is more of a mystery/learning movie about the history of the zodiac killer and what the people went through with it in that time. i recomend it for people that are from the ages of 14+
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AGE
A good thriller!
This movie is long, and most of it is talking. It is not a slasher movie: it's a smart psychological thriller. It wasn't as violent as it's made out to seem; there's only three or four scenes that are violent and they are very graphic. Also a lot of tension. But they are only for about a total of 10 minutes of the movie. The rest of the violence is discussed rather than shown. They did use the f-word about 10+ times, but not as much as other movies I've seen. The one guy (played by Robert Downey, Jr. Coincidence?) is an alcoholic and druggie. But this movie is good and if your kids can understand what's going on and can handle violence, they should be fine, unless they scare eaisly, because this was based on true events.
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AGE
boring
this was the most boring 'horror' movie i've ever seen. kids, fear not, you'll fall asleep anyway.
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AGE
I make it a point to never watch scary movies based on real life events. They just make me positively SCARED. The only one I've ever viewed was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I had nightmares for weeks. That being said, I think that this movie would be good for the oldest teens and adults. I've heard it's very well made too.
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | David Fincher |
| Cast: | Chloe Sevigny, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo |
| Genre: | Thriller |
| Run time: | 165 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 1, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | July 24, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | some strong killings, language, drug material and brief sexual images. |
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