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'The Zodiac': Boring when it should be gripping

Coming this fall from Paramount Pictures is "Zodiac," based on the chilling '60s unsolved serial killings in the San Francisco Bay area, directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club") and starring interesting actors, including Gary Oldman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.

In other words, the signs say moviegoers have something promising to look forward to.

ThinkFilm 'The Zodiac' C- The verdict: All astrological signs point to dull. Director: Alexander Bulkley Starring: Justin Chambers, Robin Tunney, Rory Culkin, Philip Baker Hall Run time: 92 minutes Release date: March 17, 2006 Rating: R for strong violence and profanity. On the web Official movie site Rate 'The Zodiac'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

The verdict, however, is in on the ultra-similarly named "The Zodiac," tiny ThinkFilm's little new drama on the same subject. And the verdict isn't so good.

Focusing on an initial detective on the case (played by Justin Chambers of TV's "Grey's Anatomy"), "The Zodiac" explores the seemingly random real-life shootings and stabbings that occurred outside San Francisco at the start of a vicious string of slayings that to this day remain unsolved. The killer communicated with the police and the press by sending detailed, encrypted messages to them.

Naturally, community fear mounted as bodies piled up.

Sounds like a sure nail-biter, huh? The killing scenes are tense, but overall "The Zodiac" is boring when it should be gripping. The script consistently lets the air out of the film by often following the detective's son, Johnny (played by Rory Culkin, Macaulay Culkin's brother). He wanders into his father's office, studies crime scene photos and, generally, rides his bike around to no effective end.

While Chambers is fine as the detective, at times becoming overwhelmed by the case and letting it adversely affect his family ties, William Mapother (who's Tom Cruise's cousin) shows up as a local TV reporter and gives new emphasis to the term bland.

And, without warning, "The Zodiac" just sort of peters out.

It's a wonder this film didn't find its home on some satellite TV channel you haven't heard of yet.