Nope

I imagine if the Zodiac was into making movies, he’d have spent more time with his victims or (like other killers who take such trophies), abduct and transport them to a more secure location for that purpose. Plus I can’t imagine he’d feel as great a need to write if he got a deep enough thrill from the act of killing itself to the point that he could relive his experiences safely and effectively at home through watching films of his exploits. And with handheld recording technology limited back in the late 60s, he would have likely needed an accomplice and the evidence for that is simply not there. So that tells me that no, the Zodiac didn’t make films of his murders.

As for the hood, that was personal. It served a function, sure (obscuring his face in case Bryan or Cecelia survived) but the overall get-up was of a more esoteric nature. He wore it because he likely had visions of himself as a larger-than-life character, a comic book villain or masked adventurer like Baron Zemo or Fantomas. I’ll bet he trudged through his mundane day-to-day quietly delighting in his secret identity. However, he apparently never wore the mask again (or before) but this might also be functional: it was likely unwieldy and difficult to see through (the box shape must have been cumbersome and he wore sunglasses over the eyeholes) and besides, to have been caught with it would have been damning. Still, I’ve no doubt that when he thought of the Zodiac, in his fantasies, the masked man is the ideal he pictured – whether that alter-ego was successfully pulled off in real life or not.

There’s also the matter of eyewitnesses: Hartnell didn’t see a camera or an accomplice and per Mike Mageau, at Blue Rock Springs, Z had a gun in one hand, a lantern in the other and was similarly alone. Ditto Presidio Heights. Again, the evidence is simply not there.

It’s an old theory, proposed in various forms over the years, AFAIK. Some sort of "snuff movie" angle or other.

Nothing substantial seems to corroborate it, though. With LB this idea seems almost natural – the whole scene has something B movie-ish about it, so to speak. But, again, no evidence to back it up.

Well enough of that idea I guess. I had never read anywhere about filming the killings as a theory in the case. I think the idea of being a super villain was right on the mark.

Well enough of that idea I guess. I had never read anywhere about filming the killings as a theory in the case. I think the idea of being a super villain was right on the mark.

The snuff film theory got its start with Robert Graysmith’s book, in the chapter discussing suspect Richard Marshall (where he’s given the pseudonym "Donald Jeff Andrews").

An easier theory for the hood is that Z had simply known Cecilia. She had ties to the LA area, too. IF this was the reason for the hood, then Z was sort of frightened Cecilia might immediately run away when seeing him on his approach for murder.

This MAY lead to the conclusion that there had been – solid – troubles between those two before the murder..

Not to forget that Dee might have been a witness of the Jensen/Faraday murder. She even MIGHT have known Dee, too. Would be a solid motive for Z to eliminate Cecilia..and a solid motive for Cecilia to run away from this guy.

Rather not a filming issue, imo, although we had some ‘Dr. Z’ related issues in LA..

QT

An easier theory for the hood is that Z had simply known Cecilia. She had ties to the LA area, too. IF this was the reason for the hood, then Z was sort of frightened Cecilia might immediately run away when seeing him on his approach for murder.

Cecilia did see him without the hood on and didn’t immediately run away. Further, when she told Bryan that she saw someone watching them, she gave zero indication that she recognized their voyeur. Finally, if you take as gospel the ranger’s account of the victim remaining conscious and lucid long enough to supply a description of her attacker, she didn’t "name names" then either. Plus there’s the matter of the Zodiac most probably spending the afternoon at the lake stalking a group of female sunbathers and a guy fishing with his son before settling on Bryan and Cecelia late in the day.

If you put all this together, it makes a strong case that the Zodiac did NOT know Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell.

Well, anything is possible.

However, if Z simply wanted to hide his face (because he knew CS), he could have gone for a less elaborate choice – a simple ski mask or a stocking would have done the job.

I also doubt that he would have talked at length with the victims if he was afraid they might get away (and thus identify him later on).

CS never said anything about recognizing Z (or his voice) either before she died.

Lastly, if Z did know her, and targeted her specifically, he must have followed her up from Riverside. Seems like a strange thing to do. If I wanted to kill someone, for whatever reason, I don’t think I would have waited until they took a weekend trip somewhere – and targeted them under completely unpredictable circumstances while they were in the company of a third person.

Again, anything is possible. But nothing indicates that Z knew either DF or CS.

If DF had witnessed the LHR incident I personally think this would have come out in no uncertain terms by now. Her relatives have told this and that over the years, but in the weeks after the murder nobody told the police anything about Darlene being a witness to LHR, or that she was stalked by Art Allen (or was it Bruce Davis – or Gyke?), or that she was in a satanic cult – or that she was a major player in a drug running operation. All of this surfaced much later.

One thing that has always puzzled me is why the getup. He dresses up with a costume to kill people. I have thought for
awhile now, that somebody filmed the zodiac "doing his thing". If the Zodiac intended to murder the couple at the lake, then who would have seen his costume other than the dead people who wouldn’t be able to tell about it. It seems to me that to create such a well done hood(as it has been described), and have it be meaningless unless somebody could see it
doesn’t make sense at all. The hood "makes the zodiac", as far as I can see. I get chills just looking at that spooky covering.
And just maybe the flashlight that the zodiac told police he used at night was actually a small camera with a light.

I think he used the hood and chest cover (if he were to use the knife) as just a way to keep the blood off himself as much as reasonably possible—-and it was perfect for a quick and fast/easy removal. Coveralls do not come off as as quickly. IT prevented blood from getting all over his face and hair—plus upper chest.Very easy to then go make a phone call.

This is a interesting stuff for those how see this killing as a copycat, using a chance to make a snuff film. Some time ago i watch a video from the place and is a depreced zone with no much way to get out, relative easy to look for up the hill.
I think that horan is right with greysmith intoxicating all the media about zodiac, and the relation with the film reels we see in the zodic film… i dont see related to zodiac but could be some of truth behind, onviusly if it was a copycat oportunity, its an incredible avaible alabi then. But its a problem in this point of history find some elements from them. Even of someone found a copy of a 8mm filming the event, could not lead to none.

Even been most a much fictional posibility i would like to see how descard this thing. Its a really cinematographic scene dislake lake herman road, blue spring or presidio. But much likely to Domingoes murder in a place with similar condition where all the action could be filmed from up the upper level. Lake Berriesa like too much like been made by same person instead of the other cannonic cases.

It’s far from certain to be related to BRS and LH. The Zodiac letter barely mentions this attack even though it’s his most famous.

Hartnell’s testimony is also contradictory. On site he said that the attacker said “I have to stab you now.” and Hartnell replied that he should stab him first because he can’t bear seeing Cecelia get stabbed. Why not plead for your life or something like that? It’s such a weird thing to say. Almost like he thought this was a play or something. In his report to the officer from the hospital he completely omits this and says he asked the attacker if his gun was loaded (While bound on the ground, really? Why such a stupid question?), that the attacker showed him a bullet, and then suddenly started stabbing him out of nowhere.
That’s quite a contradiction. Why?
All of Hartnell’s lines to the Zodiac sound like a bad movie script. He’s so chatty like he has to provide some dialogue to pad the time, yet the guy is dressed like a psycho and had a gun. Cecelia even tells him to just do what he says.

Then the suit even though both are supposed to die. Unless they weren’t supposed to and the attacker just decided on the spot to go at it.

The attacker also supposedly said “I’m nervous.” as he was binding Cecelia.

It all sounds like a bad movie gone wrong. It sounds crazy to think it could have been a stupid movie gone wrong, but no one would admit to it ever.

Personally I think it has nothing to do with LH, BRS and Stine nor any of the letters. The potential suspect description also doesn’t really match Stine’s.

You are mixing Hartnell’s actual quotes with non quotes.

You are mixing Hartnell’s actual quotes with non quotes.

Sure it’s what was reported as being what he said on site.