Tunney business

FILM

The crazy ciphers! The sinister greeting cards! The creepy hooded outfits! No wonder the still-unsolved case of the Zodiac Killer — the Bay Area's very own serial menace — has inspired so much amateur sleuthing, so many true-crime books, and multiple films, including Dirty Harry and David Fincher's star-studded Zodiac, due out in September.

But first: Beating Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo into theaters is NorCal native Alexander Bulkley's The Zodiac. This bare-bones indie focuses on a Vallejo detective (Justin Chambers of Gray's Anatomy) who becomes obsessed with the Zodiac as the case unfolds — to the distress of his wife (Robin Tunney) and the curiosity of his young son (Rory Culkin). Back home in Chicago after an LA talk-show appearance, Tunney calls to share her enthusiasm for The Zodiac.

SFBG Cowriter and director Alexander Bulkley is a first-time filmmaker. How do you feel about working with folks on their first time out?

ROBIN TUNNEY It's always scary. It's not like you can ask somebody who their favorite Beatle is and know they can direct. Alex is very calm and focused, which is really a great thing for a director. It's a very low-budget film, but it's got this amazing style — his thumbprint is on every frame.

SFBG This movie marks your first time playing a mother. How was it working with Rory Culkin?

RT He's amazing. When I found out he was playing my son, I was like, "What? How old is he? Can't I start out with an infant? Does it have to be a Culkin?" You always have this feeling when you're making a film — is this gonna be all right? And he said to me one day, "Robin, don't worry. It's going to be a good movie. I always know, and I've never been wrong."

SFBG This is your second movie with Bay Area connections, after the San Francisco–set Cherish.

RT I loved making that movie, and I love Finn [Taylor, the director]. I'm so proud of that movie, and San Francisco really supported it. When I go to San Francisco, Cherish is the movie that people have seen — you can only be the chick from The Craft for so long.

SFBG Whoa — do you still get approached by fans of The Craft?

RT In the last six months, it's gone from being the chick from The Craft to the lawyer from Prison Break.

SFBG Speaking of, new episodes of Prison Break are coming up soon. Do people stop you on the street and demand to know what's going to happen in the next season?

RT People really love the show! But I tell them that it's like the Bush administration — even I don't know what's going to happen. (Cheryl Eddy)

THE ZODIAC

Opens Fri/17

www.thezodiacfilm.com

PRISON BREAK

New episodes start Mon/20 on Fox

www.fox.com/prisonbreak