‘Ernest Hemmingway one wrote “The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.” I agree with the second part.’
David Fincher’s career as a Hollywood director didn’t get off to the best start with 1992’s Alien 3. In fact, it was so bad that he disowned the film entirely shortly after its release. For a director that was new on the scene, a film as poorly received as Alien 3 was like a death sentence. Fincher needed to prove himself, show the industry and the world what he was truly capable of once he was freed from the shackles of studio interference, and he got his chance to do that with 1995’s Se7en. A film that would not only put Fincher on the map, but also redefine the crime thriller genre.
Soon to be retired homicide Detective Lieutenant Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is paired with eager newbie Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) to uncover a new serial killer that is motivated by the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Evny, and Wrath.
That’s really all I can say about the plot of Se7en without giving away some of the major plot developments from the end of the film. But if you’ve never seen Se7en before I cannot recommend it enough, not only for its fantastic story and jaw dropping conclusion, but also for Fincher’s mastery of the craft so early on in his feature filmmaking career.
Soon to be retired homicide Detective Lieutenant Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is paired with eager newbie Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) to uncover a new serial killer that is motivated by the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Evny, and Wrath.
That’s really all I can say about the plot of Se7en without giving away some of the major plot developments from the end of the film. But if you’ve never seen Se7en before I cannot recommend it enough, not only for its fantastic story and jaw dropping conclusion, but also for Fincher’s mastery of the craft so early on in his feature filmmaking career.
Se7en is one of those films where you feel dirty just from watching it. The rain-soaked sets and grimy interiors all leave you feeling just as dank and depressed as the films subject matter. Each murder scene is a puzzle in its own right, and it’s no surprise that Se7en left such a huge mark on the genre with its creative crime scenes, most notably going on to inspire the Saw franchise almost ten years later.
Some of these moments are truly stomach churning (we're all looking at you sloth), and whilst blood and gore is actually kept relatively modest, there are some truly gruesome moments in Se7en that are completely unforgettable. Even just the suggestion of what has happened in some of these murders is enough to leave you shaken, lust is an excellent example of this as you don't see the murder scene at all but just have it explained through conversation.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, Freeman and Pitt have excellent chemistry together, and the dialogue is so tight and intricately written that you’ll hang off every word coming out of their mouths. The relationship they have is strained to say the least, Somerset just wants to get out of this city and away from how miserable and horrible everything about it is; whereas Mills is looking at it with fresh eyes and seeing a city he can help change for the better. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Mills’ wife Tracey, and she delivers some much-needed moments of hope to the proceedings as she develops a friendship with Somerset to try and help him and Mills see eye to eye. Kevin Spacey arguably steals the show however as the murderer, John Doe. Whilst Spacey’s personal life may have cast a shadow over his career, there’s no denying that his cold and sadistic performance in Se7en’s final act is among the greatest of his entire career.
The ending is arguably one of the best in cinema history as well, it hammers home the themes of the film so well, and it's one of the most tense moments I've ever seen thanks to the fantastic performances at play.
Some of these moments are truly stomach churning (we're all looking at you sloth), and whilst blood and gore is actually kept relatively modest, there are some truly gruesome moments in Se7en that are completely unforgettable. Even just the suggestion of what has happened in some of these murders is enough to leave you shaken, lust is an excellent example of this as you don't see the murder scene at all but just have it explained through conversation.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, Freeman and Pitt have excellent chemistry together, and the dialogue is so tight and intricately written that you’ll hang off every word coming out of their mouths. The relationship they have is strained to say the least, Somerset just wants to get out of this city and away from how miserable and horrible everything about it is; whereas Mills is looking at it with fresh eyes and seeing a city he can help change for the better. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Mills’ wife Tracey, and she delivers some much-needed moments of hope to the proceedings as she develops a friendship with Somerset to try and help him and Mills see eye to eye. Kevin Spacey arguably steals the show however as the murderer, John Doe. Whilst Spacey’s personal life may have cast a shadow over his career, there’s no denying that his cold and sadistic performance in Se7en’s final act is among the greatest of his entire career.
The ending is arguably one of the best in cinema history as well, it hammers home the themes of the film so well, and it's one of the most tense moments I've ever seen thanks to the fantastic performances at play.
Se7en also lays the groundwork for what would become Fincher’s signature style. Whilst Alien 3 may be Fincher's first Hollywood production, the amount of studio interference that disrupted that production means that Fincher doesn't even consider it his film. Se7en is his first opportunity to show people what he's capable of, and what kind of films he wants to make with each frame packed with intricate visual storytelling devices, and slick camera movements combined with precise and calculated edits. It really helps place you in the scene with the actors because of how seamless everything feels, whilst Fincher is still discovering his style with Se7en, you can see a lot of what would come to characterise some of his most iconic films like Fight Club and The Social Network here in Se7en.
It also sees the beginning of his long time collaboration with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Whilst Se7en was composed by Howard Shore, a NIN remix is used for the opening title sequence and was so beloved by Reznor that it led to him getting gradually more involved with film scores.
Se7en is a tough watch, but it’s one that any fan of crime thrillers is sure to love. It’s lean, it’s refined, and it’s got teeth, all the things you want from a great thriller. The story is sure to leave a lasting impression on you, and there’s plenty to chew on with the great performances. Se7en is just an altogether amazing film, and is the best second chance feature that a director could have hoped for.
It also sees the beginning of his long time collaboration with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Whilst Se7en was composed by Howard Shore, a NIN remix is used for the opening title sequence and was so beloved by Reznor that it led to him getting gradually more involved with film scores.
Se7en is a tough watch, but it’s one that any fan of crime thrillers is sure to love. It’s lean, it’s refined, and it’s got teeth, all the things you want from a great thriller. The story is sure to leave a lasting impression on you, and there’s plenty to chew on with the great performances. Se7en is just an altogether amazing film, and is the best second chance feature that a director could have hoped for.