THE ZODIAC KILLER (1971)

• Director: Tom Hanson
• Cast: Hal Reed, Bob Jones, Ray Lynch, Tom Pittman
• Film: 86mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: Doors 6pm | Intro + Film 6:30pm – 9pm [18+]
• Dogs welcome

BAR TRASH continues our 12th sensational season — SATANIC PANIC! — with Tom Hanson’s THE ZODIAC KILLER (1971), the only movie in history made explicitly to catch a serial killer.

The ‘Summer of Love’ came crashing down at the end of the 1960s, as the Manson Family killings and unsolved atrocities by the still-unknown Zodiac Killer festered paranoia about something dark lurking at the heart of American communities. By the start of the 1970s, these fears had started to manifest themselves in popular culture as a deep-rooted fascination with the occult and Satanic worship, inspired by Ira Levin’s novel ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1967) and then William Peter Blatty’s ‘The Exorcist’ (1971).

Directed by Tom Hanson, who had previously owned a chain of Pizza Man restaurants, THE ZODIAC KILLER reimagines the crimes of the then-active Zodiac Killer in hopes of luring the madman out of hiding. During theatrical screenings, Hanson and his team constructed in-cinema traps to catch the killer. These included stooges hidden around the foyer (including one in an ice-cream freezer) and a raffle with a motorcycle as a main prize. Audience members had to fill in response cards that were immediately ‘assessed’ for handwriting similarities to the Zodiac Killer’s taunting letters.

Needless to say, the plan didn’t work… Instead, we get the most outrageous and compelling “tabloid horror” vortex on the planet and a strangely compelling case of weaponised community theatre. There really isn’t any other film in history quite like THE ZODIAC KILLER.

Polite notice: We are projecting THE ZODIAC KILLER with subtitles from the best available digital source. The BBFC warns that the film contains ”strong bloody violence, nudity” and discriminatory language. There is brief sight of a severed human ear…

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £6 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. More info at tokenhomo.com ///