THIS IS THE ZODIAC SPEAKING. A Documentary That Hits You

Documentaries about serial killers have practically become a genre of their own in Netflix’s catalog. Over the past few years, the streaming giant has produced series focused on figures like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Henry Lee Lucas — all of them well-executed and presented in an engaging format. Last year, another killer joined this collection — arguably the most infamous of them all: the Zodiac. This Is the Zodiac Speaking.

The murderer who shook America in the 1960s was never caught, and even after nearly 60 years, we still don’t know his identity.

The Zodiac has long become part of pop culture — books, documentaries, David Fincher’s critically acclaimed 2007 film Zodiac, Dirty Harry (whose script was inspired by the case), and even the Riddler in Matt Reeves’s The Batman — all add to the legacy that ensures the Zodiac is never forgotten. The fascination is understandable — the story is inherently cinematic. An uncaught killer, eerie murders mostly targeting young people, a distinctive symbol, and taunting letters with coded messages — two of which remain unsolved to this day — it all fires the imagination.

Netflix’s three-part This Is the Zodiac Speaking doesn’t dive into the case from the angle of the police’s painstaking investigation, as Fincher’s film did. Instead, it focuses almost entirely on one of the main suspects: Arthur Leigh Allen. Among those speaking about him are Robert Graysmith (a Zodiac case researcher and author of the book that inspired Fincher’s film, where he was portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal), journalist Rita Williams, and most prominently, the Seawater siblings — whose mother was friends with Allen for many years. In separate interviews, the Seawaters recall their memories of Allen, who acted as a father figure to them.

They talk about trips they took with him — to locations suspiciously close to where the murders occurred.

Document creators Phil Lott and Ari Mark give full voice to their interviewees. And although no one can say with 100% certainty that Allen was the Zodiac, the siblings’ statements — and how they align with details of the killings — make it difficult to come to another conclusion. Especially since the documentary hardly mentions any other suspects, aside from brief notes about the number of people questioned in the investigation. The entire narrative is framed around Allen, and it’s through his lens that the documentary revisits the Zodiac’s crimes and media interactions. So, for those who want a broader view of the case, other sources would be necessary — this documentary hones in on just one of its aspects.

The interviews are intercut with archival footage from the Seawater family’s personal collection, as well as short reenactments illustrating past events — visually reminiscent of Fincher’s style. These unassuming home videos from decades ago are deeply unsettling. Not because of what’s in them, but because the man seen surrounded by children could truly have been a killer. As viewers, we look at his face and can’t help but wonder if it was the same one hidden beneath a hood as the Zodiac shot teenagers in a car or stabbed a couple by a lake. Watching Allen’s later statements is even more unsettling. When it comes to evoking emotion, This Is the Zodiac Speaking does an outstanding job — the creators skillfully tap into the cinematic potential of this haunting story. The documentary frequently references Fincher’s Zodiac — both Graysmith and the Seawater siblings mention how the film motivated them to revisit the case.

Even for those familiar with the Zodiac story, This Is the Zodiac Speaking may prove to be an intriguing watch — thanks to the unique perspective of the Seawater siblings. Following the theory that Allen was the killer, we’re presented not only with a story of murder and attempted justice, but also one of disturbing relationships with young people and the manipulation of childhood innocence and trust.

How much more will we learn about the Zodiac in the years to come? Only time will tell. But This Is the Zodiac Speaking makes it clear — this case is far from over.