Sundance film review: ‘Zodiac Killer Project’
Of all the films The Utah Statesman team saw during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, there was one I walked out of with the type of manic energy that can only come from consuming something straight up your alley while receiving creative inspiration.
“Zodiac Killer Project” is a documentary directed by British filmmaker Charlie Shackleton that won the Sundance NEXT Innovator Award. Originally conceived as a traditional documentary based on Lyndon E. Lafferty’s book “The Zodiac Killer Cover-Up: The Silenced Badge,” the project faced an unexpected halt when the rights to the book were revoked.
Rather than abandoning the project, Shackleton pivoted and made a film about the documentary that never came to fruition, resulting in a meta-commentary that critiques and deconstructs true crime storytelling.
“Zodiac Killer Project” is characterized by an unconventional narrative structure. Much of the film comprises long, static shots of various Californian locales devoid of action or spectacle — think sunbaked parking lots, deserted courthouses and empty suburban homes. These visuals are accompanied by Shackleton’s voiceover as he discusses abandoned plans and examines documentary tropes.
I won’t lie — the film doesn’t have much to offer in terms of eye-catching visuals. I surprised myself by how locked in I was with how little there was to view. However, this minimalist approach allowed Shackleton to strip the genre to its bare essentials and force viewers to reflect on their consumption of the genre
By having no choice but to forego reenactments and sensationalism, Shackleton was able to emphasize gray ethical choices and manipulative techniques used to captivate audiences in so many popular true-crime documentaries.
This is, at its core, the biggest common thread in the documentary: What are the moral complexities of transforming real-life tragedies into entertainment? How do filmmakers in their quest for compelling narratives inadvertently exploit victims and sensationalize events? The line between ethical storytelling and voyeurism are constantly being blurred and redefined.
However, the biggest takeaway for me was the concept of failure and the creative process. The film is about how Shackleton failed to create something he worked hard to bring to fruition. By focusing on an uncompleted project, he offers insights into the challenges filmmakers often face.
As a documentary lover and aspiring creative, this meta-narrative felt like a conversation in which I’m being given permission to make something even if it doesn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. Shackleton’s ability to turn a creative setback into a profound exploration of a genre that has reached a saturation point is incredibly impressive.
This film won’t be for everyone. The visuals are bare-bones, and certain critics have noted the film’s central thesis becomes repetitive. Chad Collins of Dread Central commented that while the film starts with compelling insights, it “regresses — perhaps intentionally — into the same banal exploitation” it aims to critique. Some have found the meta-narrative too self-indulgent and difficult to listen to.
All that considered, “Zodiac Killer Project” stands as a compelling and introspective examination of the true crime genre. For viewers seeking a thought-provoking and unconventional documentary experience, this film is an essential watch.