'Zodiac' and 7 Other Gripping Thrillers About Elusive Maniacs, Ranked by IMDb
Thrillers about killers who have deceived the police, the press, and generations of investigators.
David Fincher's Zodiac is not just a movie about a serial killer, it is a three-hour meditation on the impotence of the system and the obsession that consumes those who try to uncover the truth.
If you've watched Fincher's masterpiece and want more stories about serial killers who were never caught or whose capture took decades, this list is for you.
8. 'The Town That Dreaded Sundown', 1976
IMDb Score: 6.0/10
History remembers the horrific events that occurred in Texarkana in 1946 when a serial killer, who was never caught, terrorized people in parked cars and even in their homes before escaping.
The 1970s slasher movie reconstructs those horrific events. The filmmakers chose not to compromise their artistic vision, meaning they didn't find answers to the questions posed, rather, they heightened the mystique surrounding the Texarkana massacre.
7. 'Taking Lives', 2004
IMDb Score: 6.2/10
Two strangers cross paths on a deserted highway – one kills the other and steals his life. This is not the first time the perpetrator has carried out such a scheme.
When another murder occurs in Montreal, the case is assigned to FBI agent Illeana Scott. Her investigation leads her to James Costa, whom she believes will be the next victim.
The man is assigned security, but the criminal kidnaps him anyway. Illeana refuses to give up and sets out in pursuit of the elusive killer.
6. 'Only the River Flows', 2023
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
The action takes place in a small Chinese town that seems frozen in time, even though it is actually the 1990s. The residents' peace is shattered when a psychopath murders a woman with a machete.
Torn between his job and his home, where his pregnant wife awaits him, Detective Ma Zhe is tasked with finding the culprit. He sets up his homicide unit in an abandoned movie theater and immerses himself in the investigation, which gradually drives him insane.
There are practically no leads, the witnesses are dying under mysterious circumstances one after another, and his superiors are pressuring him to close the case. After all, good statistics have long been more important than justice.
5. 'Zodiac', 2007
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a wave of murders swept San Francisco. The elusive criminal known as the Zodiac constantly stayed one step ahead of the police.
Through the press, the serial killer mocks the authorities, accusing them of inaction. He would disappear, then suddenly strike again, leaving residents in constant fear.
After another body is found in the city, local newspaper cartoonist Robert Graysmith becomes obsessed with the grisly case and launches his own investigation, hoping to uncover the identity of one of the most enigmatic serial killers of the 20th century.
4. 'Memories of Murder', 2003
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
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The bodies of two young women were found in the province of Hwaseong. The discovery of more bodies soon follows, leaving no doubt that a serial killer is on the loose in this remote area.
A local detective teams up with a police officer sent from the Seoul Police Department to investigate. In an effort to prevent another murder, the partners employ unconventional and brutal methods.
Before winning four Oscars, Bong Joon Ho directed a benchmark detective film that became an instant classic. Like Zodiac, the movie is inspired by a true story that took place between 1986 and 1991.
3. 'Prisoners', 2013
IMDb Score: 8.2/10
A six-year-old girl and her friend disappeared without a trace. Days pass, but the two never return home. The only clue is an old, battered van that was parked nearby while the children were playing in the yard.
Detective Loki arrests the driver, Alex Jones, but the police are forced to let him go due to insufficient evidence. While the investigation stalls, the father of one of the girls decides to take action himself.
He's willing to do anything to get his daughter back alive.
2. 'M', 1931
IMDb Score: 8.3/10
A mysterious man is brutally murdering little girls across Berlin and leaving no trace. The police are at their wits' end trying to identify the child killer who has terrorized the entire city.
When another body is found in the streets, the mafia leaders, whose criminal enterprise has begun to suffer losses, decide to find and lynch the psychopath themselves.
M is one of the first sound films in world cinema. This groundbreaking movie was created by Fritz Lang, one of the founders of German Expressionism. M laid the foundation for thrillers about the hunt for maniacs and anticipated the visual style of film noir.
1. 'Seven', 1995
IMDb Score: 8.6/10
In a dark, rain-soaked New York City, a mysterious serial killer is on the loose. Drawing inspiration from the Bible, the killer murders people with unprecedented cruelty.
The investigation is led by Detective William Somerset, a department veteran set to retire in a week. His partner is the young and arrogant David Mills, who recently moved to the city with his wife.
To catch the serial killer the detectives must understand his twisted logic and anticipate his next move. However, on their way to achieving their goal, the partners face a lack of evidence and personal differences.
