The Zodiac Killer

Director Tom Hanson rented the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and premiered the film on April 7th, 1971 with the intention of luring the real Zodiac Killer to one of the screenings. Kawasaki sponsored the event, and offered a motorcycle as a prize to the audience member who wrote the best answer to "I believe the Zodiac kills because..." on yellow cards that were handed out at the door. Hanson set up a team of people to analyze each entry for handwriting that matched that of the killer, and planned to confront them in the lobby if a match was found.One particular night, Hanson encountered a man who according to him closely resembled the famous wanted poster sketch and had submitted more than one entry, despite warning the staff against providing multiple ones per person. Due to the fact that the employee who was concealed in the submission box was incapacitated; Hanson had some other employees present seize the man, who reportedly didn't even act surprised when grabbed. Hanson then personally confronted him, claiming to be Zodiac victim Paul Stine's brother. The man nonchalantly responded that he was sorry to hear about Stine's murder, and ultimately, he was let go. The next day, Hanson found that the man was staying in a nearby hotel, and was apparently a Vietnam veteran. He was convinced that the man was The Zodiac and even claims to have received several letters from the killer later on, which were confiscated by the Police. Since the contest to win the motorcycle was largely a sham, no one ever "won" the prize, and Hanson eventually gave it away to a friend of his.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Paul Avery - best known for his in depth coverage of the Zodiac Killer - supplied a foreword for the film, played an active role in the production, and is listed as a consultant in the credits.

This film was shot in various locations without permits.

San Francisco Chronicle journalist Paul Avery, who wrote about the Zodiac and had received several death threat letters and cards from the killer, at one point thought that Hal Reed who plays the title role was the actual Zodiac. During the infamous theater showing trap that was designed to catch the actual Zodiac, Avery was set to have dinner with Tom Hanson in a nearby restaurant afterwards. Avery was so worried that the killer would target him that he would purposely wait in an alleyway near the restaurant and then followed Hanson inside when he appeared.

Producer/Actor Anthony Begonia's parents were classmates of one of the victims.