If there was ever a modern classic you hadn’t yet seen, or you’re partial to a sublime ‘based on real-life’ thriller, then Zodiac stands out. This isn’t just for the chilling and compelling subject matter, but also for the killer director and cast, that director David Fincher brings to life, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Chloë Sevigny, Anthony Edwards and John Carroll Lynch in the acting form of their life – and this 4K UHD release is the ideal way to get into it.

A superbly crafted crime story, Zodiac stars Gyllenhaal as a San Francisco newspaper cartoonist Robert Graysmith, a man who’s consumed with discovering the identity of the notorious Zodiac Killer: an unidentified individual who is terrifying Northern California with a seemingly unpredictable killing spree. Based on the bestselling book by Graysmith, with the screenplay by James Vanderbilt, it is a creation so diligently recreated and strikingly 1960s through to the 80s, that it’s easy to fall into the era they’re endeavouring to represented, as the film endures as a visual and storytelling treat in 2025 – thanks to Harris Savides‘s cinematography, a sharp score from David Shire, and editing from Angus Wall.

Helped by Fincher’s choice to utilise the Viper FilmStream cameras, even digitally shot in 2005-7, it made waves by matching up with his meticulous filmmaking methods and shows us a great use of the format, as well as a prime example of what can be achieved, when you know how to get the best out of something. While there are a few 35mm shots amongst it all, this remaster is from the native 4K from that original digital, it’s delicate, earthy, sharp and its colour grading from the moody, rainy skies of San Francisco, to the brightness of the police offices still incites all the right levels of dark shadows and creepy happenings. It’s a film that feels lived in, and this version certainly enhances those elements, as you’re absorbed in the moment, much like Se7en – another touch of Fincher brilliance.

In a technical sense, the visual side of the 4K UHD is 2160p high definition with a 2.4:1 aspect ratio, with the audio offering DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 in English, with the Dolby Digital in three other languages, the Blu-ray has Dolby Digital Audio in four languages, and for subtitles you’ve got 12 languages on the UHD, and 11 on the Blu-ray. The sound mix is an essential part of Zodiac, and that continues to be clear, and front loaded – meaning you won’t miss vital detail.

As well as the 4K UHD, which holds the perfectly excellent theatrical cut, there’s also a Blu-ray with the Director’s Cut. While there are a few scene differences in the latter, as a standard viewer it’s not enough to make the biggest alteration of your enjoyment of the film, but it certainly plays in the styling and extension of some select moments and character development, yet it’s up to you which one you prefer to watch. There’s also the addition of archived featurettes, etc, from previous releases that remain in their original format, but – again – they’re worth investigating and if you’re new to the film itself, are absolutely worth checking out:

• Commentary by Director David Fincher
• Commentary by Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Producer Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy
• Zodiac Deciphered
• Visual Effects of Zodiac Previsualisation
• This is the Zodiac Speaking
• His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen

Produced by Mike Medavoy, Brad Fischer, Ceán Chaffin, Arnold Messer, Louis Phillips, and Vanderbilt, David Fincher’s Zodiac is one of the best films of the 21^st century for me – if it’s on the TV, you’re instantly drawn into it the seedy, factfinding world, it’s stupendously shot and expertly brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast. If you don’t have this in your collection, this is the one to buy – offering you the 4K UHD theatrical and an equally high-quality Blu-ray Director’s Cut to enjoy for years to come.

Order your copy of Zodiac on 4K UHD now via Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZQW3SU

HMV: https://hmv.com/4kUHD/Zodiac