Dear Movies, I Love You: “David Fincher & Zodiac (2007)”

Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O’Brien
Air Date: December 2, 2025
Podcast Network: Exactly Right & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive into David Fincher’s 2007 film Zodiac. Hosts Millie and Casey deliver a blend of personal connection, film criticism, and cinema culture, focusing on how Zodiac evolved from a misunderstood thriller on release to a beloved masterpiece of the true crime and procedural genres. The conversation is full of candid, sometimes hilarious observations, along with thoughtful takes on Fincher, the film’s performances, and its place in movie culture.

Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

Introduction and Banter [01:24–08:24]

• Coded Emails & “Threatening” Messages: Casey reveals they've received bizarre ciphered emails and ominous (yet ultimately silly) commentary about his “farts.”
  • “I mean, this sounds like a positive terrorist if you ask me.” —Millie [03:50]
• Millie and Casey riff on stalkery fan vibes, setting a playful but slightly unnerved tone.
• Segues into the main topic: Zodiac.
  • “Let’s just talk about this movie straight up. We don’t even need to talk about it in any other context other than this movie just being one of my favorite movies.” —Millie [07:04]

Movie Diary: Recent Watches & Gripes [14:09–27:38]

• Millie’s Movie Theatre Woes:
  • Recalls an uncomfortable viewing of the new Running Man (2025) remake, highlighting her inability to buy Glen Powell as a working class revolutionary:
    • “He’s so MAGA coded…” —Millie [20:20]
• Counterpoint: Casey doesn’t get Glen Powell’s leading man appeal either.
• Casey’s Film Diary:
  • Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) — first time watch, loved it.
    • “This type of John Cusack movie …I want more of that.” —Casey [25:11]
  • The Naked Gun (2025) — found it genuinely funny despite David Zucker’s disapproval.
  • Micro Budget (2024) — enjoyed it; hints at future discussion.

Main Movie Discussion: Zodiac (2007)

[27:40–82:37; continued until ~81:12]

Fincher, the Film & Its Context

• Initial Reception vs. Cult Status:
  • Both hosts remember Zodiac as “misunderstood,” with Millie championing it early and Casey admitting to a 180 after rewatching:
    • “When I watched it this time … I was scared again. This rattles me, man.” —Millie [31:58]
    • “I thought it was so good. I thought it was so textured. I thought it was so funny… This is the best David Fincher movie.” —Casey [36:57]

Personal Connections

• Millie:
  • Saw the film a couple years after release, didn’t understand why it was disliked.
  • Describes seeing a revival screening at the New Beverly and being genuinely rattled:
    • “Came out of the movie theater, scared out of my fucking mind.” [31:58]
• Casey:
  • Was a film school “shithead” at the time, expected another Seven or Fight Club, didn’t appreciate Zodiac’s slow pace or its digital look at first.
  • Quote: “This isn’t like a David Fincher movie. This is messy and long and big and not tight and violent like I’m used to… Anyhow, I’ve done a total 180.” [36:57]

Zodiac’s Vibe: Slow-Burn Procedural & Detail

• Admire the movie’s patience and obsessiveness, connecting it to procedural and journalism movies.
  • “At certain points you just crave different tempos for films…” —Millie [38:05]
  • “Every little fact, I was like, ooh, the handwriting doesn’t match… I was really hanging on each little development.” —Casey [39:25]
• Discussion of the sheer production complexity:
  • “They must have had like a thousand or so cuts on the cutting room floor.” —Millie [41:06]

Ensemble Cast Fandom

• “All my guys! Like, even the ones I was like, oh shit, that is my guy.” —Millie [28:29]
• Discussion of actors:
  • Mark Ruffalo (“my Greek king Elias Koteas!”), Donald Logue, Brian Cox, Anthony Edwards, etc.

Fincher as Director

• Both hosts are “hot and cold” on Fincher.
• Anecdotes about his ultra-meticulous reputation (100-take shoots):
  • “Robert Downey Jr. said… ‘I was going to give him what he wanted. I think I’m a perfect person to work for him because I understand gulags.’” —Casey [47:17]
  • Both debate the value and cost of that shooting style.

RDJ as Paul Avery

• Both agree Downey Jr. strikes a perfect balance between charm and direction.
  • “I think he’s charming and funny. But …this felt like it was being utilized properly.” —Casey [54:31]

San Francisco as Setting

• Discussion of the city’s history as a crime/noir setting and its changing identity since the 70s, with tragic loss of its counterculture vibe:
  • “The tech industry pretty much ruined San Francisco.” —Millie [55:51]

The Arthur Leigh Allen Scene [59:17–63:40]

• The police interview with John Carroll Lynch as Allen is named as the film’s centerpiece moment.
  • “You know how sometimes you just catch a vibe from a creepy dude? … This is how I think about that…” —Millie [60:43]
  • Lynch’s performance is cited as chilling and unforgettable.
  • The trip to Allen’s trailer (with “Crisco on the floor”—a detail both missed previously) [63:10] is highlighted as intensely disturbing.

Obsession, Dedication, and the Heat Comparison

• Compares Zodiac to Heat as an ensemble about men sacrificing personal lives to their obsessive quests.
  • “This is the heat of serial killer movies.” —Millie [65:36]
  • Both hosts agree the film sells this obsession believably.

Iconic Scenes & Cinematic Fears

• Bob Vaughn’s house/basement scene is lauded as iconic and universally terrifying.
  • “I know like ten organists at a silent movie theater.” —Casey [75:47]
  • The terror of being “the weird collector/potential suspect,” relatable for film nerds.

Unresolved Mystery & Final Thoughts

• The film’s pointed implication: Allen is the Zodiac, but circumstantial evidence means no certainty—raising broader questions about truth and proof.
  • “There are times in my life where I have, like, figured out that …somebody’s boyfriend was cheating or, like, I’m the one that loves evidence. I get a thrill out of it…” —Millie [74:44]
• Both ultimately credit Zodiac as Fincher’s best and recommend revisiting films after years for new perspective.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “This movie is, dare I say, a masterpiece.” —Millie [31:19]
• “I was just dorks about [Seven].” —Millie [44:19]
• “Sometimes fans of things negatively affect the thing itself…” —Casey [50:07]
• “I wanted to be like, I just want this to be over.” —Mark Ruffalo’s character, as quoted by Casey [64:27]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:24–08:24 — Banter, coded messages, podcast meta-commentary
• 14:09–27:38 — Movie Diary: recent watches, theater gripes, quick reviews
• 27:40–81:12 — Main Zodiac discussion: personal histories, Fincher’s style, cast, scenes
  • 59:17–63:40 — Arthur Leigh Allen interview scene
  • 69:42–73:10 — Bob Vaughn/basement sequence
• 81:12–94:03 — Audience Q&A: cult movies, western recommendations, “Nightmare Before Christmas” debate
• 95:15–96:42 — Employee Picks (movie recs related to Zodiac)
  • Millie: Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  • Casey: All the President’s Men (1976)

Gripes, Gropes, and Gratifications (Listener Mail & Recommendations) [81:25–94:00]

• Cult Classics: Discuss films that were ignored or panned on release, but are later recognized as significant (ex: Zodiac, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Jennifer’s Body).
• Western Film Recommendations: Millie rapid-fire lists must-see titles (e.g., Red River, Johnny Guitar, Stagecoach, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Hud) for a listener interested in Tombstone and complex performances.
• Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or Christmas Movie?
  • Casey: “It’s a Halloween movie.”
  • Millie: Leans “Christmas,” but acknowledges the movie’s duality and ambiguity.

Final Thoughts

Millie and Casey celebrate Zodiac as a film that has grown in reputation and relevance, expertly blending procedural, true crime, and ensemble drama. Both encourage listeners to revisit films with fresh eyes, and to embrace slow-burn storytelling. Packed with cinephile in-jokes, sharp analysis, and lived-in movie love, the episode is a perfect example of the podcast’s “relationship with movies” thesis.

Essential Quotes with Timestamps

• “Let’s just talk about this movie straight up…one of my favorite movies.” —Millie [07:04]
• “I thought it was so good… This is the best David Fincher movie.” —Casey [36:57]
• “You know how sometimes you just catch a vibe from a creepy dude? … This is how I think about that…” —Millie [60:43]
• “This is the heat of serial killer movies.” —Millie [65:36]
• “I have done a total 180 on it… now it’s one of my favorite movies.” —Casey [36:57]

Episode Takeaways

• Zodiac is now viewed as Fincher’s masterpiece for its meticulous, slow-burn style and haunting ambiguity.
• The film’s resonance has only grown over time; both hosts urge rewatching movies that didn’t initially work for you.
• Fincher’s directing style—both dazzling and divisive—brings out career-best work from the cast.
• The film’s exploration of obsession, truth, and the unknowable is still chilling in 2025.

Where to Engage

Instagram: @dearmoviesiloveyou
Email: DearMoviesExactlyRightMedia.com
Hosts on Letterboxd:

• Millie: @m.dechirico
• Casey: @CaseyLeoBrien

Next week: Year-end favorites for 2025.
Closing Words:
“Thank you, Millie. Always a pleasure.” —Casey [98:46]
“Thank you, Casey. I’m sorry you’re getting those fart emails…” —Millie [98:51]