Set in today’s world of desperation and obsession, “Awakening the Zodiac” is a tense and gritty mystery-thriller, brilliantly re-imagining the notorious story of the Zodiac Killer. The movie focuses on the poor Mick and Zoe, a couple who discover a collection of self-made movies showing the killer’s murders in a storage locker. With needy finances and an attractive $100,000 prize, they set out on a reckless pursuit to find out the truth behind the tapes. Their amateur investigation turns into a cat-and-mouse game as their knowledge of the riddles, their escape from old houses, and their search for elusive clues are matched by the hunter’s own emergence from the shadows.
The movie is strong on portraying regular people in extraordinary situations, raising its viewers to the level of the dangerously intoxicating power of obsession and greed. Desperate, both Mick and Zoe overlook the escalating threat and their relentless pursuit of justice is a perilous game. The direction of the film also works to enhance the claustrophobic atmosphere, highlighting the increasing tension in the film and the very real, and not-so-suspect presence of the killer who is revealed to be far from dead and very real indeed. The twists and turns keep the audience guessing until the final brutal confrontation, revealing the killer’s identity and leaving the story unresolved, leaving the Zodiac legend possibly never dead.
Most of this was the idea that common people can be driven to their darkest acts when desperate. The film’s dark theme and ambiguous ending leaves an eerie impression of the lure of a mystery and the continued mythos of the Zodiac killer. A strong reminder that sometimes, the truth is most costly and evil can be found in the most unlikely of places. Harrowing, thought-provoking and a thriller that lingers long after the credits roll, “Awakening the Zodiac” is a film that will keep you guessing.
