(Credits: Paramount Pictures)

The thing about Netflix’s revolving door is that it never really stops. Regardless of how elated certain additions leave the audience, within seconds, they must prepare for another fan-favourite title departing Netflix. While this has happened over a million times before, nothing might have you ready for what’s about to leave next on Netflix: the gritty crime thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Zodiac.

Based on Robert Graysmith’s non-fiction books, Zodiac and Zodiac Unmasked, the 2007 mystery thriller follows the nationwide manhunt for the Zodiac Killer, who sent the San Francisco Bay Area on alert during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Not only was the serial killer responsible for a terrifying carnage, but also his erratic behaviours, which included teasing the police with letters, bloodstained clothing, and cyphers mailed to newspapers.

According to reports, director David Fincher and producer Bradley J Fischer spent over a year and a half conducting their own probe into the Zodiac murders, since the case remains one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of American history. While many regard Zodiac as Fincher’s magnum opus, considering the cult following the thriller has gained in the years since its release, it’s no wonder that people think that way.

Directed by Fincher, Zodiac follows the meticulous decade-long track operation for the elusive Zodiac Killer. The film tells the story of cartoonist Robert Graysmith, reporter Paul Avery, and inspectors Dave Toschi and Bill Armstrong, as they get obsessed with unmasking the murderer who doesn’t even flinch from taunting the police with cryptic letters.

True to Fincher’s directorial style, Zodiac opens with a series of ruthless, random killings, followed by the killer sending letters and riddles to the San Francisco Chronicle, demanding they be published if they want to avoid further bloodshed. Although the police investigation nearly hits a dead end, Graysmith becomes curious, launching his own investigation and research, ultimately bringing irrevocable damage to his personal life.

Zodiac also sheds light on a prime suspect, despite definite evidence remaining elusive. But at the core, the mystery thriller highlights the absolute frustration of the unsolved crime. The film has received widespread praise for its accurate and methodical depiction of the investigation, followed by the portrayal of the psychological toll of the obsession with making peace without closure.

Although it has been nearly two decades since Zodiac was released to universal acclaim, it remains a cultural cornerstone of the crime drama genre.

But for those saving Zodiac for a later watch, you’re officially on the clock. The mystery thriller is scheduled to leave Netflix on February 18th. So, make the most of it while it’s available on streaming because a week later, the regret might just kick in.