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Action Cult Classic

A city in fear as a masked killer prowls San Francisco’s streets, blending disguise with brutality.

THE ZEBRA KILLER

Savage and Wilson are Combat Cops! A Hard Way To Live... An Easy Way To Die

1974 · 1h 32m · PG · Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Based on real events that shocked San Franisco in the early 70's. Mac portrays the role of The Zebra Killer, a white man who dresses in black makeup and strolls the city of San Francisco stalking, raping and killing young women.

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Quick Answer

What is The Zebra Killer about?

The Zebra Killer is a 1974 American action-crime thriller directed by William Girdler about a racist white serial killer terrorizing San Francisco while evading a relentless police lieutenant.

Programmer's Pick

William Girdler’s The Zebra Killer doesn’t just riff on 'ripped-from-the-headlines' crime—it dives into the city’s chaos with abandon, blending urban paranoia and wild grindhouse flair. Expect night drives, police lineups, and a killer who tricks both the law and the audience with his chilling disguise.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

San Francisco is gripped by terror as a serial killer known only as "Mac" embarks on a spree of violence, camouflaging his identity with black makeup and an afro wig. Police lieutenant Frank Savage becomes obsessed with stopping this sadistic murderer, especially after his own girlfriend is kidnapped by the killer. As the murders escalate, Savage uncovers the motivations behind Mac’s brutal acts, encountering a trail of devastation and a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game. Based on shocking real events from the early 1970s, The Zebra Killer combines gritty city panic, police procedural intensity, and exploitation cinema’s boundary-pushing edge.

Details & Specs

Director
William Girdler
Writers
William Girdler, Gordon Cornell Layne
Release
1974
Runtime
1h 32m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Also Known As
Combat Cops, The Get-Man, Panic City, Original title: The Zebra Killer

Cast & Crew

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Director: William Girdler Writers: William Girdler +1 more
Austin Stoker Austin Stoker Lt. Frank Savage HS Hugh Smith Det. Marty Williams James Carroll Pickett James Carroll Pickett Killer (as James Pickett) Charles Kissinger Charles Kissinger Lt. Robt. Creason VR Valerie Rogers Frank's Lady MM Mary Minor Whore #2

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Why Cult

Urban Terror Grindhouse

Experience San Francisco as a powder keg, where city panic and relentless violence paint a grim canvas straight from the grindhouse era.

Disguised Killer Tension

A white serial killer’s use of black makeup and an afro wig creates a disturbing layer of deception and social commentary.

Obsessed Cop vs. Maniac

Lt. Frank Savage’s personal stakes ramp up when his girlfriend is kidnapped, fueling a relentless pursuit through the city’s seedy underbelly.

Blaxploitation Mashup

The film meshes hard-edged police drama with era-defining blaxploitation style, delivering action, attitude, and a distinct 70s flavor.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Serial killer begins stalking city

Threat

Racist serial killer in disguise

Effect

Murder, kidnapping, city-wide panic

Setting

San Francisco streets

Questions from the Vault

When was The Zebra Killer released? +

The Zebra Killer was released in 1974.

Who directed The Zebra Killer? +

The Zebra Killer was directed by William Girdler.

How long is The Zebra Killer? +

The Zebra Killer has a runtime of 92 minutes.

What genre is The Zebra Killer? +

The Zebra Killer is an action, crime, drama, and thriller film.

Trailers & Clips

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