Film made to catch Zodiac Killer screening at L.A.'s Egyptian Theatre

In April 1971, first-time filmmaker Tom Hanson premiered his movie The Zodiac Killer at San Francisco’s RKO Golden Gate Theater with the hope that he could catch the titular murderer. His plan? That the Zodiac would attend a screening, be enticed to write on a card and thus identify himself by his handwriting, and then be apprehended by Hanson.

“We knew he was up in Northern California,” Hanson recently told EW. “And if I showed [the] film up there, I thought he’d have to go see it. If he went to see it — we could get lucky.”

The director never caught the Zodiac — although he believes the killer did come to the Golden Gate — but almost half a century later, his film is enjoying a renaissance. Last year, a new 4K transfer of The Zodiac Killer screened at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, and the film will be released on Blu-ray for the first time on July 25. In addition, Hanson is to be the subject of a new documentary, called Zodiac Man.

Hanson’s film also will screen on a double bill with David Fincher’s 2007 film Zodiac at L.A.’s Egyptian Theatre on July 9. Tickets are now available for the event, which will feature a Q&A with Hanson.

Watch a trailer for The Zodiac Killer, above.