Before Law & Order: SVU could offer “torn from today’s headlines episodes,” viewers had to go to their favorite low budget cinema to get an exploitation angle of major freakish news. Director Tom Hanson didn’t make a mere dramatic film about the killings that horrified San Francisco and inspired Dirty Harry and Zodiac. He wanted to crack the case. Now this cinematic oddity is coming out on Blu-ray thanks to fans who wanted it restored properly. AGFA and Something Weird are double featuring it with Another Son of Sam to give us two serial killers on one Blu-ray. Here’s the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THE ZODIAC KILLER Blu-ray coming July 25 via AGFA
The first AGFA title (of dozens) in a collaboration with Something Weird Video…
On the heels of a successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign
AGFA (American Genre Film Archive), a non-profit that preserves the legacy of genre films, is pleased to announce details for THE ZODIAC KILLER Blu-ray, which will be released on July 25! This is the first title of dozens in our collaboration with Something Weird Video following a successful 2015 Kickstarter campaign.
Directed by Tom Hanson, who had previously owned a chain of Pizza Man restaurants, THE ZODIAC KILLER was made to capture the real-life Zodiac Killer. That plan didn’t work. Instead, we got the most outrageous and compelling “tabloid horror” vortex in the history of planet Earth. And beyond. During theatrical screenings, Hanson constructed in-theater “traps” to lure the killer from hiding. These included the use of an ice cream freezer filled with rent-a-cops and a raffle with a motorcycle as a prize. You won’t get insight like this by watching a David Fincher movie. But you will get it while watching THE ZODIAC KILLER.
Special Features:
– New 4K scan from the only surviving 16mm blow-up elements!
– Commentary track with Tom Hanson, Manny Nedwick, and more!
– Interview with director Tom Hanson and actor Manny Nedwick!
– Tabloid-horror trailers from the AGFA archive!
– Liner notes and director Tom Hanson interview by Chris Poggiali of TEMPLE OF SCHLOCK!
– Reversible cover art!
– Bonus movie: ANOTHER SON OF SAM (1977)! New 2K scan from a 35mm theatrical print!
