Zodiac Killer Project – Review (3/5)

ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT is a new true crime documentary about a documentary that was never made. Yes, this is a documentary about the making of a true crime documentary that never was. Coming out in theaters now. Read our full Zodiac Killer Project documentary review here!

ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT is a documentary about making a true crime documentary. It was supposed to be a true crime documentary feature about the Zodiac killer. However, this was to be based on a specific book, and just as the documentary filmmaker is getting ready to start shooting, the rights to the book fall through.

Instead, he made a documentary about the true crime documentary he had planned on making. The runtime is 91 minutes, which works well for this project. Overall, this is an intriguing watch, though I have to say that I found the filmmaker a little annoying at times. Then again, this works for the project, in a roundabout way.

Continue reading our review of the Zodiac Killer Project documentary below.

A documentary about true crime documentaries

With Zodiac Killer Project, we’re getting a documentary about the true crime Zodiac documentary that the filmmaker was planning to make. However, it turns into something bigger than just his own true crime production.

In fact, this ends up being equal parts about the specific Zodiac documentary that never was and the familiar formulaic approach to true crime documentary productions.

This means Zodiac Killer Project features a lot of clips from many of the most famous and successful true crime documentaries. Seeing clips from all of them makes it obvious that the typical true crime documentaries all look very similar.

This will forever change how you watch true crime

It’s so strange to recognize the very obvious patterns of true crime documentary filmmaking. From the title sequence that utilizes lots of the same ingredients, to various clips meant to evoke nostalgia or suspicion, and moving on to how interviews are made.

Watching this will forever change how you watch true crime documentaries in the future. In fact, the first true crime documentary I watched after Zodiac Killer Project was The Carman Family Deaths, and I noticed all these formulaic elements.

Also, I realized that this Netflix documentary was probably around the same quality as the Zodiac Killer Project documentary would have been, had it been made.

Watch Zodiac Killer Project in theaters

Zodiac Killer Project was made by Charlie Shackleton, and I have to admit the Zodiac documentary he was describing did not sound good. Maybe because he seemed to have an almost arrogant approach to true crime. I mean, if he wanted to just make a copy-paste average Netflix documentary production, why would anyone want this guy to have the rights to their book?!

Then again, maybe part of the reason is to be found in Charlie Shackleton being annoyed that he didn’t get to make a true crime documentary. If he couldn’t make his own, he could attack those others have made. Also, for the record, you cannot talk about true crime documentaries and suddenly point out elements from season 1 of Monster about Jeffrey Dahmer. That was not a documentary!

Maybe watching this will help you recognize why you enjoy the kind of true crime you do. For me, it certainly did. I realized that I prefer those that utilize body cam and surveillance footage. Mostly because it focuses on facts, not just setting the stage and trying to make its viewers feel something.

DO CHECK OUT…

Our review of The Perfect Neighbor which focuses on facts >

Overall, I would recommend watching Zodiac Killer Project as a study in true crime filmmaking. However, don’t expect to learn more about the Zodiac serial killer or about how to make a good or original true crime documentary. Clearly, this was never the goal of Charlie Shackleton in any case.

Zodiac Killer Project is out in N.Y. theaters on November 21, S.F. theaters on November 28, and expands to limited theaters in December 2025.

Details

Director: Charlie Shackleton