Zodiac | When Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

[@daniel_netzel]

Hope you guys enjoyed the video! I wanted to try something a little different, with less narration than I normally do. I felt when editing this scenes together, my voice only stood to get in the way, and figured I'd give it a shot with a more minimal approach to the narration. I'd love to know what you guys think in the comments here! And if you enjoyed the video, likes and shares(to Twitter/Facebook/Reddit) are always really helpful! Thank you! Also, don't forget to check out www.audible.com/filmradar or text "filmradar" to 500-500 to get your free audiobook and 30 day trial! Signing up really helps me out and is greatly appreciated!

[@daniel_netzel]

I mean, kinda/sorta. This video is more of a supercut than a traditional video essay, but you'd be surprised how much work went into the editing. In hindsight I should have made a proper note of that, but it was a documentary made with the purpose of existing as extra footage on the special edition, directed by David Prior(who directed a lot of the other behind the scenes footage as well), in my mind I felt crediting the film was enough, because anyone with the two disc DVD or Blu-ray has access to it, and it wasn't its own separate documentary, if that makes sense. But as far as the work that went in, the documentary is about an hour and a half, with a lot of different information covering the entire timeline of known Zodiac events, starting with Lake Herman. What I wanted to do was superimpose the footage together to create a sort of play-by-play highlighting the level of detail and authenticity that went in to recreating the scenes for the film. So there's plenty that I cut out(obviously) and moved around, and put together as a sort of super cut. But if you watch the whole documentary you'll see what I mean, it wasn't as simple as just taking the entire segment from the documentary and adding footage from the film on top.

[@razkable]

whats sad is they could of caught him if the cops were not racial profiling

[@swankybutters8371]

Great work...

[@ckotcher1]

@@daniel_netzel Can you please make a longer one?? I really enjoyed it

[@robphillips2463]

Do you think Auther Allan was Zodiac?

[@ZombieOrchestra]

"I am not the Zodiac. And if I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."

[@Nocturn4lAnim4L]

Zombie Orchestra absolutely chilling, I still don’t think it was him though

[@brandonkeisler86]

NOCTURN4L have your eye on anyone in particular?

[@Nocturn4lAnim4L]

THE BATMAN unfortunately I don’t i guess the most likely would be Alan I just don’t want that to be true I hope the find out someday

[@benjamingarcia2282]

THE BATMAN Richard Gaikowski is what I imagine the zodiac to be

[@brandonkeisler86]

Grey *59 Excellent suspect. Definitely nothing has been brought up that would rule him out.

[@Mpiewizard]

I'd like to point out that every time the Zodiac is on screen, he's played by a different actor to better match the description of him given by witnesses/victims at that specific time. The attention to detail in this film is astounding.

[@JBoxy7]

Pretty sure he is played by the guy who plays the guy the author thinks is the killer at one point.

[@NitroGummyBear]

The guy playing Leigh was definitely one of, if not all, the voices on the phone when talking to the operators

[@thrillcollectors]

@@NitroGummyBeardefinitely him in the picnic scene too

[@Mpiewizard]

@@thrillcollectors The actor who played Leigh never plays the Zodiac during any of the crime scenes. They're all listed towards the end of the cast list during the end credits as Zodiac 1, 2, 3, and 4.

[@Blairskirock]

Zodiac is one of the most impressively research intensive films I've seen, it's just mind-blowing how it lives up to the work. It's very underrated to me.

[@daniel_netzel]

There was a whole bit in the Behind the Scenes where the investigators there on the day of Lake Berryessa were taking Fincher around the real location where it happened, and they were going to film in the exact same spot. They led Fincher to what they thought was the right place, but using eye-lines and echoes and other straight up Sherlock Holmes level intellect he figured out that they were in the wrong spot. He literally out-detectived the real detective who was there, he's just a complete madman and I love it.

[@neuralmute]

@Yellow Mustardgas Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. I'd rather be prepared for the next psychopathic whack job, and maybe even catch the bastard, thank you.

[@emmyluly4620]

Yellow Mustardgas we can’t forget them, we need to study them

[@neuralmute]

@@emmyluly4620 If you're interested, I highly recommend the book "The Psychopath Whisperer" by Dr. Kent A. Kiehl. He`s been one of the top researchers on the brains of psychopaths for decades, and his info is fascinating. The book's surprisingly funny, too, coming from a guy who's spent years interviewing and then running MRI scans on every sort of violent criminal he could get into his studies, including serial killers. Who knows, he may have a brain scan of Zodiac himself somewhere in his thousands of files!

[@anantambisht4895]

All the events shown in the film are true except some

[@kristijanhorvat8192]

I always thought no movie could match Seven. Then Zodiac came out. I guess only Fincher can match Fincher.

[@vegapunkslab511]

lol

[@AntonioGee]

@@lisa-md9iz that's stupid. Separate the actor from the person.

[@aidani4633]

Est-19 XX that’s pretty dumb.

[@boibentley23]

@@lisa-md9iz that’s pretty dumb

[@boibentley23]

@@lisa-md9iz So because of what he’s done we’re going to delete all his achievements and talent. Spacey is one of the best Actors ever period. Separate the art from the artist , If Seven was your favourite movie and because Spacey did what he did now you don’t like it , that’s immature and clear you didn’t like it in the first place , millions listen to Micheal Jackson , millions watch Miramax-Weinstein productions films and still re watch them ( such as goodwill hunting and the Tarantino films ) if you don’t separate the art from the artist and keep on researching the things your consuming and when you see things you dislike about anything involved with that consumption it’s clear to me and the others that you won’t have anything to watch or consume . Oh and I’m happily going to let my children watch Seven when there old enough

[@PowerlevelingNU]

Seeing that stabbing scene always makes me really uncomfortable

[@magicman3163]

asdf09 yeah you assume people would own guns back then especially in the wild

[@ZombieOrchestra]

The male survivor of that attack watched a screening of Zodiac and commented the he had to turn away because it was horrifyingly close to the actual attack.

[@JalinaBrown]

same, something about that scene in particular always stuck with me and deeply disturbed me

[@deab1253]

@-- He had a loaded gun, if he wasn't naive enough to choose to believe him and actually tried to turn it around in their favour, he would've probably died himself.

[@markrobertson6664]

The attack on Brian Hartnell and Cecilia Ann Shepard was so much more brutal and sadistic than Zodis other murders because of the long drawn out nature of it. The costume, the hogtying, the stabbing. He didn’t want to just kill these two people. He wanted to savor their fear and suffering.

[@k_a_y_l_e_e]

'Zodiac' truly is a genuine masterpiece of a film.

[@daniel_netzel]

Couldn't agree more!

[@nathan-ql5vh]

My favourite film

[@EntertainTheElk]

Great essay. Felt like I was watching a documentary. I love this movie but that stabbing scene on the beach is so damn brutal to watch. Probably because it felt like you were watching something real, which this essay affirms. Kudos, my friend!

[@daniel_netzel]

It was originally going to be more of a typical video essay, but throughout the editing process I decided to heed my own words, "why change anything if you don't have to?" I was just essentially recapping what could easily be shown instead to greater effect, and the result definitely feels almost like a documentary, which I'm quite pleased with to be honest. Oh yeah, editing that was fun, hearing the screams over and over again never ceased to send a chill down my spine.

[@MrGenedancingmachine]

You're right about that stabbing scene, I watched thousands of people get killed onscreen and felt nothing but that one felt disturbing and real

[@Vercingetorix.Rising]

Watch " this is the zodiac speaking ". It's the documentary most of this was taken from. It's available here on KZbin.

[@brentloy131]

The beach scene really is extremely rough to watch

[@zac52]

Yeh that scene was messed up

[@heypeppepper]

I saw the movie and loved it, but I had no idea the level of detail and realism the film makers were committed to. Great vid. That stabbing scene is chilling as hell

[@daniel_netzel]

Shit keeps me up at night man.

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

@@daniel_netzel The killings were brutal but I enjoyed watching Robert Graysmith's obsession spyral out of control. He had to catch the Zodiac killer.

[@2ndbleak]

I swear they watched some videos of actual stabbings - the lake stabbing scene is so god damn realistic and painful to watch compared to other murders in media. Maybe if all murder scenes were this real, people would murder just a bit less.

[@daniel_netzel]

I actually wonder this often. It feels like most movies that get a bad rep for being "too violent" are just the ones that depict it realistically. And it makes you wonder, what sort of impact the toned down version has on people who aren't exactly mentally stable? Maybe they don't think it's as horrific until they see it for themselves? Like those kids who just chucked a 20 pound rock off of a freeway and ended up killing someone. Maybe I'm totally off base, or reading too much into it, but I do think about these things.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yeah I'm not one to link movies or video games to real world violence (in fact all research points to there being *zero* connection between fictional and real world violence), but these school shootings are giving me pause. How these kids who've never killed anyone can go on a murder rampage and not immediately be sent into shock by the immediacy and vividness of the carnage in front of them suggests they really are inhuman on some level. Shooting someone with a rifle or shotgun is a brutal enterprise. That's why there's PTSD.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@Green Mustardgas You really think Americans are the only ones consuming violent movies? Think again.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

@Green Mustardgas Because the rest of the world consumes it.

[@jimbehr2291]

Hmm, how many stabbings have you seen?

[@rumproast8643]

It's so weird that the survivors talk about it so calmly like it didn't even phase them

[@daniel_netzel]

I think when you're that far removed from it, and you've talked about to police, journalists, the movie people, I think it just becomes second nature after a while.

[@rumproast8643]

Film Radar I suppose so huh

[@HungerGames0012]

Well the more you talk about something and the amount of time that passes, usually stuff is easier to talk about. Because at that point, while it's traumatic, it's the past. It already happened and it's over with. It can't hurt you anymore. These guys probably had extensive therapy as well.

[@razkable]

@@daniel_netzel and it's a moment in your life but it doesn't define it...we live long lives..that was 1 day

[@awesomevideos32]

God im getting tense just watching a video about a movie about a serial killer

[@daniel_netzel]

To be fair, it is a video about a movie about a REAL serial killer so...I think tense is normal.

[@PresidentialWinner]

Watching the Zodiac made me tense for the rest of my life. Ok i'm exaggerating but seriously just knowing these things happened and are most likely happening still and there are probably thousands of people like him everywhere you go on the planet...Makes me queasy. Just READING about rape statistics, torture, mass murder, or about people like Josef Fritzl is nerve wracking and watching these things on screen is two times as hard.

[@britneyspheres7yearsago11]

PresidentialWinner I am the same. I used to watch these silly “top 10 etc. Etc” videos back in the day. I think I stopped after a list including serial killers. There were much worse cases than the zodiac killer. Much, much worse. One case was so bad I just could not - not think about the poor victims (and how shit the justice system is from time to time.) I’d rather not say what it was. Maybe people like you could work in law enforcement?

[@grindstone4910]

This is why I refuse to watch any horror/thriller movies nowadays. There's already too much pain in the world, why do we need to invent more?

[@tastyloaf5487]

Oh man, I think about Elizabeth Fritzl all the time .... My heart really aches for her ....

[@PittsburghSonido]

“Why change anything if you don’t have to?” God, this is why I subscribed to this channel. I need more, I want more. Great work.

[@daniel_netzel]

You're good people Tony. Thank you.

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Great discussion of one of the best films of the past few decades. I grew up in the SF Bay Area ( I think my hometown is mentioned on a Police scanner in the extended edition) so watching the movie at the age of 12 added that extra level of intensity and made it one of the scariest movies I have ever seen.

[@brendan7048]

Go niners!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

After a couple rough seasons, I am looking forward to getting back to dynasty form!

[@daniel_netzel]

Thanks Jack! I didn't know that, that must have made for an interesting film going experience for sure! I live in the Midwest, which is like, serial killer production center, but surprisingly never lived too close to any of the places where they attacked, I do remember hearing about Gacy and freaking out a bit though.

[@courtneyvaldez7903]

Born and still live in Vallejo, here. I grew up obsessed with Zodiac stories because it was so strange to me as a young kid in the early 90s that Vallejo, of all places, was a place where something "historical" happened...even if it's a horrible bit of history. My father actually knew a couple of the victims from high school.

Not very often do I sub to a channel off the back of a comment in the section below, but this is one of those times. Buuuut I already subbed to your channel ages ago off the back of your outstanding work.

[@brosephdudeguy]

Love Zodiac. Definitely one of Finchers underrated masterpieces. Love your content too. Keep it up.

[@daniel_netzel]

I'm glad to see it gaining more appreciation as time goes by, but I when I see people rank Fincher's movies, I'm usually saddened to see it ranked on the lower end, I think it's one of his absolute best. Thank you for saying so, I appreciate it!

[@brosephdudeguy]

Film Radar Yeah man. I personally find Zodiac better than Fight Club. I was so inspired by the film and the story itself I wrote a research paper about the zodiac in high school. I got a 96! Seriously I love your videos and Zodiac definitely needs more recognition.

[@daniel_netzel]

I do as well! Not that Fight Club isn't great, it's amazing, but personally my ranking is Zodiac, The Social Network(these two are pretty interchangeable) then Fight Club, Benjamin Button, and it's hard to rank from that point. Thank you for saying so!

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I've watched this movie so many times I can recite the dialog. It's finally getting old, but it took awhile. I know I've watched it too much when certain details seem too kitch or cute. They did go a little hard on the period details to such an extent it almost seems a parody of the early 70's. I really can't fault this film though. It's the most affecting and well crafted crime drama ever made, and it didn't have to go into la la land like Silence of the Lambs to achieve that effect. If you set this next to Se7en, I think this is a far more disturbing film.

[@jeremyviromek]

@@daniel_netzel fight club is my favorite movie of all time but it gets harder and harder to deny Zodiac is just as good if not better

[@paulgthawkins]

I love this movie. The atmosphere, the music, the story, the setting - all make for an enveloping experience

[@daniel_netzel]

Couldn't agree more!

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

Zodiac went above and beyond the, "based on a true story" tagline to really venture into the horrific crimes

[@dmartig1]

I loved the film's use of "Hurdy Gurdy Man:".

[@jesterssketchbook]

in the tv broadcast i saw, they added that at the start of the ad breaks - was great

[@blurquoise5301]

Those two survivors had a LOT of guts, even after all this time, to relive those events so candidly - I dunno, if I had gone through something like that, whether I'd have been able to watch a MOVIE about it, ESPECIALLY one recreated that accurately.

[@fnafffan246]

True

[@ultimatum117052]

I know Brian Hartnell, he is a really good guy and one of the nicest men I have ever met. It is strange seeing him talking about the incident as he is very reserved about it. This is a great video about the care and attention to detail David Fincher gave these tragic and heartbreaking stories.

[@mfhoss9570]

GameTop I highly doubt you know him Judging by your KZbin videos and channel description I’m lead to believe that are you well under the age of which you would even get a chance to meet him let alone get to know him to the extent you say you do

[@samuelraji8343]

@@mfhoss9570 He plays video games you twat. He can be somewhere from 15 all the way to 45.

[@charliemike13]

nick martorana isn’t it possible he could know him through his parents too?

[@ultimatum117052]

@@mfhoss9570 Dont know why you would take a predisposition to someone just based on their channel, but whatever. I see him a few times a year and met him through mutual friends. Hence why I stated I know him and not friends with him. Not someone I go out for beers with on a Tuesday night but nevertheless is stil a good guy that I know.

[@PatrickHogan]

Such a good video about Ted Cruz.

[@daniel_netzel]

Chyea boi.

[@PittsburghSonido]

I wanted to make a comment like this lol

[@ThomasK96]

Patrick Hogan ?

[@orangeandblackps]

Ted Cruz is 48vyrs old

[@carleystack959]

orangeandblackps that’s what he wants you to think

[@MeerkatChris]

Easily the most eerie film I've ever seen. A large part of that is probably down to the fact you're constantly aware it genuinely happened, and this sort of video just strengthens that further... Every time I give it another watch, it just manages to find it's way higher and higher up in my favourite Fincher films!

[@ming2479]

this is prb the most intense video essay I've ever watched. Good job!

[@daniel_netzel]

Quite the compliment, thank you!

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

Indeed. This was... wow. I am always hesitant to click on longer clips and usually do chores while watching those, but this had me glued to the screen.

[@daniel_netzel]

That's great to hear! I was worried it might be on the overlong side, so I'm glad to know that it could keep you entertained!

[@mustafayigitkartal4257]

I usually don't comment on a place like youtube but just want to say that the level of professionalism and polish that you put into this video is one of the best I've seen in quite some time including many local motion pictures. You've really got a documentary-esque vibe to the whole video and I dig it man, good job.

[@bryenveliz9637]

I've never seen such a well put together video in my life. Amazing work

[@daniel_netzel]

Dang dude, thank you so much! That is very high praise my friend!

[@bryenveliz9637]

Film Radar Well deserved. Bravo 👏👏👏

[@daniel_netzel]

😊

[@npcimknot958]

wow that guy had balls asking if the gun was loaded....so traumatic

[@militaryfan85]

When I saw that happen, I immediately thought you know what? I would’ve asked the same thing. I would’ve talk to my assailant but I would try to get the fuck away. When someone’s coming that close they only have so many rounds of shit fuck that I would’ve hauled ass and ran myself into the lake or something

[@Brandon-nr8fn]

Not balls, manipulation technique

[@saikonakoshi4334]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I am so glad it is getting recognition on your channel. This video made me fall even more in love with it. I did not know half of this. Thank you

[@daniel_netzel]

Mine too! Thank you for such kind words my friend! Hopefully I'll be pumping out videos about every 3-4 weeks from here on out, I really want to take this channel seriously as a career and I just don't think that's possible if I only upload every two and a half months :P

[@saikonakoshi4334]

Film Radar Of course! Well, I'll be here for all of it! Just wish I wasn't the stereotypical broke college student lol I'd help support on patreon if I could. But keep up the good work and I'm sure you can make it. Like I said, the way you put together videos is phenomenal. Other people will take notice for sure.

[@daniel_netzel]

I'm glad to hear it! Haha, no worries, I'm the stereotypical broke college student without the college lol. So safe to say I understand the struggle. Patreon is an awesome tool, but I'd hate for anyone to put themselves out on my account. Supporting some naive idiot on KZbin is far less important than paying for food, or rent, etc. Granted, if you find yourself with some sort of windfall from Bill Gates or something, I wouldn't say no to doing splitsies ;) Thanks, yeah, I think it will happen at some point, hopefully sooner than later, but I feel that as long as I stay focused on making the best content that I can, I can't go unnoticed forever.

[@aaronjohnson374]

Voice = Cocoa butter mixed with Nutella

[@daniel_netzel]

Why thank you :3

[@SmithMrCorona]

With several cups of Nerdwriter

[@forestknite7001]

You married the documentary and film perfectly together. Hartnell describing the attack with the Zodiac looming behind is a really creepy and clever touch. Gotta say have you ever noticed the Zodiac crosshair symbol is A's and L's put together. He put his real signature on everything and got away with it. ALA

[@scottt3100]

Forestknite you nailed it! I’ve thought the very same thing. Thank you!

[@boiledelephant]

How do you get to this? I don't see it.

[@openshores4288]

David Fincher is so good...se7en, and Zodiac are my favorite and that lake scene is so hard to watch

[@daniel_netzel]

Se7en, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Zodiac, The Social Network, all absolute masterpieces in my opinion.

[@neuralmute]

Can you believe that he used to direct Paula Abdul's music videos?!?

[@jyetaylor6898]

Film Radar can’t forget the game

[@mdzaid91]

Hey could you please tell me who was the guy @12:34 sitting next to the car with open door..was he the survivor or the killer or what I didn't really get it

[@kmtros]

@@daniel_netzel what about gone girl

[@iandavid7730]

Huge Fincher fan and Zodiac is a true classic. This is a really considered video that focuses on the details and draws attention to what matters. Fincher would approve, I think.

[@daniel_netzel]

Man, I think my brain would explode if Fincher saw this video, let alone enjoyed it.

[@iandavid7730]

One of the disappointments of Gone Girl for me was there not being a making of. I just love watching Fincher assemble a film. One of the few directors going who's work stands up to - arguably needs - repeated viewings (Denis Villenneuve is another).

[@tonywords6713]

Wow they REALLY nailed the location and character likeness

[@Zeverinsen]

The way realistic movies can impact your emotional state of being really is something different. That's why it's so difficult and time consuming to do, but ultimately has the best pay-off. The audience always remembers something that triggers real emotion.

[@olly_evans]

What I found rly disturbing was the adrenaline and rush he clearly got after the murders. You can really hear it in his voice in the calls, like he's high almost...

[@MichaelZipkin]

Great work! Those double exposures were very pretty, and quite thematic at times. This is easily one of Fincher’s most underrated films, and it’s so tense to watch. Thanks for reminding me to watch this one again.

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you so much! Couldn't agree more, editing this one made me a bit squeamish at times, but it was well worth it.

[@rinkooo6006]

Imagine saying that you were a survivor of the zodiac killer…that’s crazy

[@storytellers1]

Excellent fking work Daniel! Having just watched Wild Wild Country, I have to say, this had that same kind of lingering suspense and overall quality to it! Wonder if Ted will watch this one sometime soon... - Thomas

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you so much Thomas! Careful man, he might be lurking in these comments looking for his next target...I don't trust it. You just KNOW he's got connections at the NSA and could be spying on us at this very moment!

[@ledarbyromeo9667]

...what?

[@jamanoorabuukhalid3311]

I like both of your channels..keep it up

[@buda3d2007]

I was discussing with a friend the other day of how good this film was, know knowing how close it was to the real thing it elevates the work, really terrifying and an unintentional period pieces that contains all of the nuance of the time it was set in.

[@daniel_netzel]

The first time I saw this film, it really got into my head. It felt so real to me in a way that I hadn't seen in a film before(not that it hasn't been done before, but nothing I had seen ever came close) so finding out that a lot of things were so accurate to what happened in real life definitely fascinated me.

[@SolidOcelot]

This movie started my interest of true and unsolved crime stories. Really enjoyed the video, great work.

[@daniel_netzel]

For good reason I'd say! I think this film is like a gateway drug for more true crime stories, I find it all endlessly fascinating. Thank you!

[@SSky06]

When I first saw Zodiac I thought it was a good movie. Since then I've probably watched it 10 times and know nearly every line by heart. Fincher has made a lot of great films but Zodiac is a masterpiece and it doesn't get nearly the amount of respect it deserves.

[@followtheowl1]

Your editing skills just keep getting better and better! I Love your channel so much, I can really see all the effort you put into each video

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you so much for saying so! I really do what I can to improve with each video :)

[@Migzter05]

This movie just gets me tense every single time, no matter how many times I see it. It's so well done as a thriller and a detective piece. Truly one of the best.

[@starbelly2000]

There are only two films (well, four) that I rewatch every year: Zodiac and the Lord of the Rings (trilogy).

[@rhno3842]

Never a theory about how it was a group of people. Just one guy. The Manson family was more than one guy.

[@shubhamnauni7672]

The flow of the video essay was real good, keep up the good work...

[@daniel_netzel]

Awesome, thank you for saying so!

[@63Baggies]

It's worth watching this movie for the soundtrack alone; Fincher uses the music as narrative and drives the film along at a firm pace. This is a very well researched program. I visited San Francisco last year, but when I return will visit some of these locations; as this is a fascinating series of crimes; which sadly will never be solved.

[@donaldpriola1807]

Fincher is a detail master. Having all the diaries of the killer in Se7ven being 100% filled out, which took a large staff two months to do. For about two seconds of screen time.

[@roguechevelle]

this is one of the best true story films i've seen. The scene with the couple getting stabbed was so hard to watch and felt so real that i couldn't help but cry. and all the actors did an excellent job.

[@AlbertRufin]

In my opinion, the Zodiac killer wasn't just one person. That's why the evidence never matched. The Vallejo area at the time was a center of drug dealing and gangs. If you wanted to join a gang, you had to show your loyalty, devotion and cold-bloodedness. How? Maybe to kill someone or a couple. Richard Lee Hoffman, Arthur Leigh Allen, Richard Joseph Gaikowski knew each other and they knew some of the victims. Also, there were rumors that Gaikowski was involved in so called "snuff films" and Darlene Ferrin (before she was killed) witnessed a person she knew killing someone and this person was stalking her after that. What if one person was writing those letters, the other one committed the first murder, the other one the second murder, the other one was covering up the evidence and getting the info from the police (most likely a cop like Hoffman) etc. and all of them knew each other? Those murders looked like ritual murders, not murders done by a real serial killer who really enjoys it and can't stop.

[@whlewis9164]

Based on some takes I’ve read recently, this is my current thinking as well. I still think Arthur Leigh Allen was in the mix, but Lawrence Kane (born Klein) possibly also involved. I don’t think they were working together. The Donna Lass murder in Tahoe had some recent information that is interesting.

[@AlbertRufin]

@@whlewis9164 Whoever was/were the Zodiac, they were smart & lucky enough to get away with murders. Of course, no knowledge of DNA, GPS, cell phones, street cameras etc. at the time helped them a lot. They would not be that lucky these days.

[@gabrielbotellofaz3781]

I had never seen victims of the Zodiac killer speak about their experiences, just watching this video gave me so much more perspective and empathy for the people who were terrorized by the killer. Thank you for this, as someone who is interested in this case (mostly because of the film) I found this video alone to be very eye-opening, not only about the killings, but about filmmaking as a whole in the sense that you can make a good film without sacrificing historical accuracy.

[@AdamSmith-lb5cn]

Check out the Documentary "This is The Zodiac Speaking". All the surviving victims and most of the key player investigators give in depth interviews on what happened. It's a Special feature of the movie Zodiac.

[@memmustafa18]

So glad a video about the details in Zodiac was made- I also really love the soundtrack, I feel like it perfectly compliments the film as a whole.

[@daniel_netzel]

Totally agree, the original score from David Shore is fantastic, but the licensed soundtrack is also absolutely perfect.

[@donlee_ohhh]

Excellent job making this. My friends & I watched it after the movie & it was great seeing the real life counter parts to the actors & I liked your editing of the piece too.

[@axelusul]

The testimony of Bryan Calvin Hartnell and Cecelia Ann Shepard cut with the movie shots of the incident are really terrifying and vivid. How Bryan deals with that day and is able to talk about it is fascinating, since the vicious attack leading to Cecelia`s later death. The movie is well made and acted, I truly hope they find who did this, I don`t know what happened with the DNA evidence found May 2018, I guess we might find out.

[@daniel_netzel]

I think after a while you just have to get used to thinking about it, but I could never imagine going through something like that. I'm doubtful that they'll ever know for sure, too much time, too much evidence lost, questions never asked of the right people before they died, but it would be great to know.

[@axelusul]

@@daniel_netzel Strangely I watched 2 UK programmes one a documentary and the other a docu-drama on ITV called MANHUNT last night about Levi Bellfield and linking him to other murders most notably 1996 The Chillenden Murders. These are worth a look, it shows how simple mistakes in an investigation and human error and luck play a part in getting these animals off the streets. Take a look especially the deaths of Mother and Daughters walking home and attacked with a hammer. Luckily one managed to survive, then 9-year-old Josie Russell, but the man convicted through "jailhouse snitch" testimony looks like a massive miscarriage of justice in my opinion as this guy Bellfield killed more than the police would like us to believe.

[@ListenToBigFace]

It’s Levi Bellfield

[@axelusul]

@@ListenToBigFace It sure is, hows Frankland these days bro.

[@michaelwerning]

ListenToBigFace naw man. Everybody knows it’s Arthur Leigh Allen. This movie did a great job at portraying Leigh Allen as the prime suspect too.

[@luke125]

“This is the Zodiac speaking.” - George Hill Hodel

[@brettlehman8671]

The guy with her at the lake was a little too chill for me maybe he took a bar before

[@ethangreig1425]

Dude this was brilliant! Just rewatched it last week for the countless time. Was great to see the actual people speak on the movie.

[@jackpaice]

these interviews are bone chilling...

[@wccvideo]

Well put. 'Zodiac' is a movie that has yet to catch up with it's audience - I rank 'Zodiac' in the league of classics such as, 'Chinatown,' and 'Vertigo.' What makes 'Zodiac' 10x more terrifying is that it's based on fact/truth/truth(s), and the 'resolution' is painful/ongoing/neverending. Thank you for taking the time to edit your essay together. 'Zodiac,' 'Chinatown,' and 'Vertigo' are movies where the protagonists' obsession become the audiences' obsession. It's a ticket to a ride that is never-ending.

[@rjmacready9828]

Facts bro, zodiac is arguably the best movie of the century

[@wccvideo]

@@rjmacready9828 Agree 100%.

[@LifeIsABeach3210]

Beautifully edited informative video, congrats!

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you

[@brendan7048]

Top notch, as always. This channel is a rising star!

[@daniel_netzel]

Thanks man, I certainly hope so!

[@jakobrogers625]

This is one of the best video essays I've ever seen. Keep up the great work!

[@daniel_netzel]

You are too kind! Thank you :>

[@alexcoyg3281]

People do not appreciate how fantastic this movie is, this a movie Kubrik would like even if he said it was a bit long

[@maxobyrne1474]

This is incredibly interesting, I've been hoping for something like this for years, thanks!

[@daniel_netzel]

Glad I could deliver!

[@hisdness1]

It's sad that this movie was considered a box office flop. This was a David Fincher masterpiece. It deserved more recognition.

[@666KnifeParty]

the quality of your videos is always very high, but this one blew me away

[@daniel_netzel]

Thanks dude!

[@danielcarlson800]

Perhaps one of the BEST films of the 21st Century. A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!

[@NicFromPaloAlto]

This is such a great video. Zodiac is a modern classic

[@daniel_netzel]

Thanks so much! Couldn't agree more. It's too bad it wasn't recognized in its time, but the true great films always rise eventually, and I'm happy to see so much love for such an amazing film.

[@judahbyjudah]

Thank you for such a high quality video

[@Whiteboyairsoft530]

Watched this movie on acid. Holy shit I was convinced the entire film was cgi

[@ruwiki]

so much accuracy in each of your videos, keep up this brilliant work!

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you so much!! :D

[@loungefly92]

One of my favorite films. One of the most interesting mysteries. It could have went very wrong, but it was fantastic.

[@daniel_netzel]

Easily could have been total trash, thank the Lord for Fincher.

[@loungefly92]

Absolutely right. Even his music videos are fantastic.

[@tangobaboon1923]

I noticed when watching it for a second time that all the murders take place in 25 minutes, it made me realise that on my first viewing for the remainder of the run time I was waiting for the next murder to happen but it never did, I think this is genius because it keeps the viewer waiting, but he never returns and it perfectly conveys how strange the zodiac was how one moment he was the most feared man in SF and the next he’s just gone never to be seen again.

[@osaji922]

He knew he narrowly escaped with the cab murder. After that he hung it up... at least in that area.

[@nicolekoalaa]

Top quality editing and superb essay as always! Great work sir.

[@daniel_netzel]

Very kind of you to say! Thank you!

[@Professor-id4jh]

Never have I seen a better third act than in the Zodiac.

[@ivorym.3595]

i love this video essay! it’s brilliant!

[@daniel_netzel]

That is so kind of you to say, thank you!

[@chizhang2765]

Haha I'm literally watching this movie right now when the notification pops up. 😂

[@daniel_netzel]

I like to use my psychic powers for the greater good.

[@Myselfrockzproduction]

Zodiac movie is one of the masterpiece movie in the history. really impressive

[@PramitChatterjee1993]

In addition to a great look into one of my fav films by Fincher, that is some bad-ass editing.

[@daniel_netzel]

You are too kind my friend!

[@Soho_Minos]

so he failed most of his "double murders"?

[@nutyyyy]

Yes they even bring it up in the film, suggesting he was too focused on killing the women to finish off the men.

[@kattegatcitychamberofcomme311]

I think he failed with Brian Hartnell on purpose. You'll notice it was Zodiacs only daytime killing and the reveal of his logoed costume or mascot." Z"needed a living witness to describe him as a kind of brand identity for the public.

[@newthrash1221]

Kattegat City Chamber of commerce How do you purposely fail to murder someone by stabbing them in the back six times with a giant blade? In my opinion, he failed to kill him and as far as the costume goes, i think it was an extremely personal part into instilling fear and whatnot into his victims.

[@gamecockmickey2123]

@@kattegatcitychamberofcomme311 I have a theory that Zodiac didn't plan on killing them when first approaching. Only crime where he wore a mask, like he didn't want them to identify him later.

[@kattegatcitychamberofcomme311]

@@gamecockmickey2123 That's why he stabed them instead of shooting them, also there were good descriptions of him pryor to lake berryessa and maybe he wanted to deemphasize that. Otherwise I agree with you.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

This is one of my new favourite film essay channels!

[@187mrsmith]

Yeah that zodiac movie with RDJ & jake Gyllenhaal is such an underrated movie!

[@spankyharland9845]

watching the Zodiac movie was like stepping back in time for me because that is how I remembered San Francisco...I grew up in the city back in the early 60's and do remember how the Zodiac killer was scaring everyone along with the Zebra killers and Patty Hearst and the SLA.....boy did we have a lot of sh*t disturbers back then....

[@meghansmith]

this video essay was amazing!!!!! i’m always so impressed with how well you edit, particularly in this video. EXCELLENT WORK AND KEEP IT UP! :)

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you so much for saying so! I'm not gonna lie, I think it's probably my best work as an editor yet. THANK YOU, I WILL! :D

[@mordaciousfilms]

The intro scene and the murder my the lake are CHILLING. My god. Like in a really unsettling way - not graphic or vulgar - but brutal and real, and it's DISTURBING.

[@marie-helenemartel7147]

Very interesting video. The Zodiac from Fincher scared the hell out of me when I saw it, especially the basement scene.

[@mandarpawar7015]

I saw this movie yesterday. What a fantastic movie it was.

[@wccvideo]

I would also strongly recommend the Robert Graysmith book, "Shooting Zodiac" - it goes into the painstaking detail of pre-production for the film that, in short, re-opened the investigation. The book is an incredible backstory about the film and the actual case - I could not put it down.

[@TheSKT946]

That was really good. I grew up in that time and remembered my mom telling us the Zodiac wanted to shoot up a school bus full of kids. I lived 500 miles away from San Francisco but I remember still being scared and worried that Zodiac would make his way down to our town. The fact they never caught him, and the stabbing scene was eerily disheartening.

[@rickhanson3293]

Definitely do not like the REALITY of the pain in her scream in this video.

[@phillyphilly_lii6441]

That guy so calmly talking about his woman being stabbed to death is extremely eerie

[@pelegirl5284]

Excellent work. I had forgotten just how frightening the Napa County scene was.

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you! Yeah, it makes my stomach turn every time I see it. Truly harrowing sequence, even with very little graphic depiction of violence it manages to be one of the most disturbing scenes in any movie to me.

[@eduardomartinez3237]

Rewatched the movie the other day and I gotta say it still holds up to this day🙌🏼

[@sgoozy]

Just watched this movie on Netflix yesterday, then this appears in my recommended feed. Hm..., how do they do it.

[@Sandrake7]

This is wonderful. Loved every second of it, I can't wait for your next essays, you have so much talent.

[@daniel_netzel]

Thank you for saying so! You are too kind!

[@darimatadewi]

Love the editing and the narration ⭐️⭐️⭐️ enjoy this video so much !!

[@daniel_netzel]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :)

[@LanceVanceDance84]

There aren't many films that can be described as being "perfect". This is one of those films.

[@RATM101101]

Fantastic video, very well done. I'll definitely show this to a few friends

[@daniel_netzel]

Good looking out dude! Thank you!

[@sweeepzone5155]

Never ever under any circumstances allow yourself to be tied up

[@lubbi0156]

3:05 huh' Blue Jay Way, very underrated Beatles song

[@daniel_netzel]

Totally agree! Honestly, almost anything by George Harrison is a super underrated Beatles song.

[@chesterlee123]

do u know the name of the old-timy song with the piano before that? At 2:35?

[@ryrigger6485]

Film Radar I’m subbing just for that reply

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

A very smooth groove, once it gets going.

[@jahorse1]

Really well done retrospective/examination of the film. I used to love watching as many of these types of videos, but over the past few months they've begun to feel quite stagnant and similar in their styles and delivery, but this one was a breath of fresh air. Look forward to checking out your other/future stuff!