‘Zodiac Killer Project’ pursues a doc never made, revealing a filmmaker’s own obsession

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Charlie Shackleton’s film, “Zodiac Killer Project,” doesn’t offer any answers to the famous case, but it does take a close look at the true-crime genre itself, almost as if putting it on trial. The film highlights how both investigators and true-crime fans—whether they’re meticulously examining evidence or binge-watching documentaries—are driven by a strange desire for satisfaction, and how we often find pleasure in getting lost in the smallest details.

British filmmaker Shackleton, known for his experimental style, planned to make a film based on the theories of a police officer from Vallejo. This officer believed he knew the identity of the Zodiac killer – the infamous criminal who terrorized the Bay Area in the late 1960s, sending taunting letters and codes to the police and was never caught. Shackleton was captivated by the memoir of former highway patrol officer Lyndon Lafferty, which described a long investigation into a specific suspect and a belief that a cover-up was preventing justice. When Shackleton couldn’t secure the rights to Lafferty’s story, he decided to pursue a different film project instead.

As a film buff, I found “Zodiac Killer Project” really fascinating. It’s built around actual footage and the director, Shackleton, just talking over it, almost like he’s sketching out a documentary that never quite materialized. He walks us through these quiet, sunny spots in Vallejo – a parking lot, a church, a house – and explains the ambitious re-creation he had in mind for the Zodiac story. He’s incredibly upfront about it, too – he admits these locations aren’t exactly where things happened according to the source material, but places very similar. It feels less like a finished film and more like peering into the director’s creative process.

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What we’re seeing feels like a clever and slightly sad proposal for a documentary—similar in style to those made by Errol Morris—that never actually got made. It’s filled with short clips, described as “evocative b-roll,” like a swinging lamp or a hand holding a gun, intended to be woven into interviews with people involved. Shackleton, filmed while recording his narration, is clearly aware of the pacing and key moments of his imagined film.

Despite being unfinished, the project is a playfully critical take on the true crime genre, poking fun at its familiar elements like spooky opening credits, fast-paced montages, and dramatic music. This isn’t a retelling of the Zodiac killer story, or a discussion of details from the Lafferty case that are legally restricted. Instead, it’s a witty look at popular true crime documentaries – like “Making a Murderer,” “The Jinx,” and “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” – and how they often both judge and sensationalize their subjects.

Shackleton clearly enjoys these kinds of true crime stories as well, and it’s often hard to tell if he’s criticizing himself or expressing disappointment at not being accepted into the true crime community. This can make his sometimes repetitive “Zodiac Killer Project” feel a little unsatisfying despite its intelligence. However, in a year that’s seen us re-examine how we consume crime narratives – with insightful documentaries like “Predators” and “The Perfect Neighbor,” and Caroline Fraser’s thorough book “Murderland” – Shackleton’s viewpoint remains a thought-provoking and valuable challenge to our fascination with true crime.

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2025-12-06 05:01