The basement scene in Zodiac is one of the scariest Ive ever watched. Gyllenhaal's character got caught in a situation where he could not possibly get out without coming off as a impolite, coward or ridiculous. And that's where the scary part is, we could all be trapped right there due to our social impulse to not show rude or fearful
I always thought after seeing that basement scene that Bob Vaughn may actually be the Zodiac Killer but it was just Fincher playing around. This scene was basically Graysmith's paranoia getting better of him. I even read somewhere that Fincher wanted to make fun of cinephiles as how crazy and scary they sound sometimes. 😅 Great video essay 👏👏
The "not many people have basements in California" line is a callback to an earlier scene, and knowing the context of that scene heightens the tension.
I always considered Finches films to be horror. I had to check and make sure the doors were locked multiple times for a week after I saw Zodiac lol. It’s probably the scariest movie I’ve seen
There was one scene we’re the detective is questioning I think the guys sister in law and it pans to the detective nothing scary even going on but he’s in a room with the woman and in the background you see the woman’s kitchen this yellow gross kitchen and in the back past the kitchen is darkness wasn’t even a scary scene just normal talking but the shot was horrifying
This might be my favorite essay of yours, Patrick. This scene has been stuck in my brain since my first viewing of Zodiac, and the way you layered in Skarsgard's monologue from TGWTDT was chilling. Never drew the parallel between those two scenes before, but it feels so poignant now. Amazing work as always - time to go watch Zodiac again.
Another insightful analysis. When I think of Fincher's Zodiac this scene materialises in my mind. It's so gripping and intense, and a lot of that,in my opinion, has to do with the information and character that has been planted earlier. Then the simple framing, sound design (that kettle) and editing complete this micro horror within a horror. That quote by Guillermo Del Toro is so telling. But let's keep it real, they're all just cosplaying as John Carpenter.
I only recently watched The Social Network, Zodiac, and Se7en and I'm currently watching Mindhunter. Fincher has become one of my favorite directors ever, all three of these movies and Mindhunter are utterly fantastic. It's great that this video rolled around right at this time.
Rest in peace to Harris Savides. Zodiac is probably one of the most underrated movie of the 21st century. I’m also thinking of Brothers (also with Jake Gyllenhaal) and First Man, just to name a few others
Ngl, you've become one of my new favourite creators. I love your work so much with how you breakdown films and honestly, I can't wait to see more of it! Great vid btw, I love fincher's work and this video has just brought my love for it to a whole other level. :)
Oh god that scene in TGWTDT scarred me for life. It's the scariest scene I've ever seen because it is so real. Because of it ill always choose being rude and safe instead of polite and dead in Stellan Sarsgaards basement lol
i loved the zodiac movie and i specifically remember this film filling me with dread, even more so than when the couple were held at gunpoint by the actual killer. you forgot to mention the scariest bit of the scene where Robert hears someone walking upstairs when he's in the basement
fantastic breakdown. i love that you included clips from the Game which I think is one of Fincher's greatest achievements. i think his style works best for horror because he leaves in the blank spaces for our minds to think through what the character is and we end up reaching the same conclusions before or with the character and that saying "fact/truth is stranger than fiction" could also be changed to "actual horror is stronger than manufactured scares". there's these moments, like this basement scene, where David throws us into the driver seat just as an accident is about to happen and we're holding the wheel staring at the headlights blinding us through the windshield and are forced to make decisions we aren't ready for and that is true horror.
Patrick, Patrick, Patrick!! Welcome back, my dude. It's so good to see another great piece of analysis from you, on David Fincher, too! That scene was probably the only scene in Zodiac at that kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I really appreciate the comparison you made with TGWTDT, spot on! Thanks for all the good work with these videos.
This film is one which reproduces the mood, atmosphere and style of the late 1960s in such vivid emotional flavor that it appears so authentic in most every way. Very impressive, especially for someone who lived that time. I can watch this movie and feel the same way I did back then. He matches the time period mood perfectly. Not many directors can do this.
‘Zodiac’ is a film I’ve only been able to watch once. It’s bone chilling. And not Fincher-related, but ‘No Country for Old Men’ terrifies me like no “Horror Film” ever has. I’ll take on Michael Myers before Anton Chigurh any day of the year.
Very interesting. I've never equated Fincher to horror in the past but i think this is one of those "now I can't unsee it" type of things. similar to the arrow in the FedEx logo.
Earlier this year I happened to be talking about Zodiac with a friend who, like me, really loved it. And I got very frustrated because he couldn't remember this scene. I kept telling him how tense and uneasy this scene made me feel; he kept saying "What basement scene? The Zodiac didn't kill anyone in a basement". ARGH. And at first I thought he was just messing with me, but it turns out he didn't even register it with the intensity I did. Funny how differently we perceive things. So, the other day I sent him a link to your video; he then got back to me and said "Man, wow, right…! I got to rewatch the film!" I feel vindicated. So, thank you! Cheers! //Rick
Excellent video. As a film buff, I love David Fincher and I love being scared, so Zodiac is definitely my favorite of his films. You highlighted an excellent scene!
About the Guillermo Del Toro quote. I really relate to it! Btw that explains why I REALLY enjoy some aspects of some really shitty horror movies... I truly know that they are bad... But some shots and the way that a scene is lit, the little things on set makes me wanna like the movie. "The Fish" was AMAZING by the way, I wish it was a 1 hour experience haha But for me, for some reason, "The Cheeseburger" is like that balance of mundane situations but also very comfy! I don't know if that makes any sense, but sometimes I feel super comfortably in the most unusual places. At that table in the back corner of a McDonald's, walking down an old rusty part of the city and imagining the story of an abandoned building. Rain helps a lot haha Sorry for the "few words do trick" kind of english. I'm just a frustrated Brazilian who doesn't have a lot of Brazilian friends interested in this kind of films/thoughts. I found your channel with a fun experiment with a Mavic mini and an AirTag. I really feel like this is one of the most underrated channels on RU-vid! Keep up with the good work man!
I get excited when you upload, love your videos bro, super inspired to start making video essays like this and more edit: we also have the same headphones 😅
This movie is one of my favorites. Like, in general. Everything about it is so expertly crafted, that even an ADHD-plagued people like myself gladly sat through it's long runtime, but it felt quick because EVERYTHING was so visual, so weighty. I brough this scene into one course in film school - forgot the intention behind why we were tasked with providing a specific clip - but this is so peculiarly done that it gave me chills and the WHOLE film is like that. It's not LYNCHIAN as far as style or content but has that sort of "unnerving, foreboding" tone a lot of Lynch's films do - where it's such a distinct cinematic voice all throughout.
I just rewatched this film. Such a great movie along with Fincher’s other works. Upon rewatch this scene is creepy but less so on the rewatch. He is friendly but awkward and quiet which can seem unsettling to people who are used to typical boisterous Americans. Also, as an organist myself, Vaughn was an organist and we admittedly can come off a little strange 😂
Patrick, I absolutely love Zodiac, I have never thought of it as a horror movie, not at all. I would call it a thriller and as you are dissecting (expertly) the basement scene I thought of another (I think underrated) movie directed by Scott Frank. The movie is A Walk Among the Tombstones and the scene when the character played by Liam Neeson carefully makes his way down the stairs of a basement shortly after serial killers Albert and Ray, played so exquisitely by Adam David Thompson and David Harbour, after they have killed a key character and got into a violent argument with each other is so utterly engrossing. What ensues prior to the scene and during is so horror filled and visceral. Both movies are incredibly different in tone and while Zodiac is a stronger movie and narrative, both move utterly like thrillers that contain horror, at least, to me. Thanks for your channel and I love your voice when you articulate your thoughts.
There's also the scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey, which reminds me of the scene where he disconnects the robot in the red room. The scene is really oppressive
We do like to be scared/disturbed by movies but I think in so many cases this is abstracted by fantasy and gimmick horror effects, maybe to give us a 'safety-valve' somewhere in the back of our subconscious. When the horror becomes plausible (poor Janet Leigh in the shower) or our protagonist here 'in the basement' the threat is quite tangible - it could happen to us - and that is genuine fear. I for one am sick and tired of an orchestra tip-toeing up behind me and going BOO! I don't have a fear of that happening to me . . . did I hear the jangle of music stands?
Zodiac is probably the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. These are crimes that actually happened to people. As for why he went into the basement-you’re right, it’s sort of human nature. But also JG’s character is totally driven by this quest. If he leaves, he loses out on the investigation. He’d rather risk his life for this obsession than back out and wonder what he missed.
Great analysis. ALTHOUGH, this movie was good. I totally forgot this scene. Not, memorable. There are better horrors out there. Watch, a JAPANESE MOVIE CALLED ‘BILOCATION’. It’s a master piece. You haven’t seen anything like it. Truly original. I’ll keep watching your analysis.🎉cheers 2023. HAPPY NEW YEAR👍.
Dude thank you. This is excactly what i thought when first time watching this scene: "why the hell is this so scary now? this used to be a thriller about invastigation and now i feel like i am in a horror movie". But for me, this was really important for fincher to make such a scene because i did have struggles with the plot in the first place. A 158 minutes long movie about a killer who never got caught? But yes it is still Fincher and after i saw The Social Network im claiming that this man can make a film about a day at the tax office and turns it into a horrific thrill
Horror..the best kind of horror doesn't belong to the materialistic Objects..that gives the viewer a foul Gory or as simple as a supernatural being........THE BEST horror is the atmosphere..that gives the viewer a bone Chilling on the edge environment (Fincher is a master at that) To put this context in an example THE FIRST CONJURING... there's a scene when she falls down a dark basement..lights go off..and to gain back visibility from pitch black darkness...she lights one match after the other...and suddenly..from the shadows 2 hands emerge and douse the matchstick..while playing like a child...HORROR..WITHOUT SHOWING HORROR
