Screened in 1996 this Oscar nominated film-noir was a ground breaking crime thriller, relying on excellent acting and a gripping storyline rather than the blood and guts of usual thriller movies.
Brad Pitt (David Mills) and Morgan Freeman (William Somerset) lead an all star cast alongside Gwyneth Paltrow (Tracey Mills) and Kevin Spacey (John Doe).
The film is slow paced without being overdrawn, allowing for essential character development and scene setting. Director David Fincher sets the scene in an ominous, dark, anonymous city with Somerset in his dark apartment, getting ready for his last seven days in the police force until retirement. The attention to detail is crucial for understanding Somerset and how his personality determines how he solves crimes. Somerset is introduced in a very structured way, in complete contrast with the introduction of Mills, who we see waking up in a bright half empty apartment seeming dazed. These two opposing characters somehow compliment each other and make for an interesting on screen relationship. Freeman brings his cool, calm and collected attitude whilst Pitt brings the fight and energy, making them an unlikely coupling. Paltrow plays the ever suffering policeman’s partner with a certain sense of grace and brings some light into a dark film. Spacey plays the psychotic serial killer, whose identity seems somewhat irrelevant, as the murders take on a life of their own, often leaving the image of the corpse imprinted on the audiences mind as the bodies are not centre stage so the image of the corpse is left entirely upto the imagination of the audience, with some matter-of-fact description from Somerset and Mills.
Even though Somerset is suspicious of Mills and his reasons for wanting his soon to be old job, he grows to respect him and takes him under his wing, guiding him using all he has learnt though his career.
Soon into the film the killing spree starts, with some gruesome yet believable murders. All which are based on the seven deadly sins, with one victim being forced to choose between suicide or living with disfigurement. Yet the film does not rely on these horrific scenes to make it a success.
The theme of the seven deadly sins has been used many times in different media but Se7en has a way of dealing with these uncomfortable themes without preaching to it’s audience. Making it enjoyable entertainment rather than forced moral dictation.
Each sinner has a suitable consequence which makes the crimes more of a challenge for the detectives and more thrilling for the audience. Also with it being Somerset’s last seven days it seems a suitable ending to what appears to have been an amazing career, and also a good head start for Mills to get to grips with the dark city he has come into.
Given the films theme, it should be quite predictable, but happily it is not as there are lots of plot twists to keep the audience gripped without being confused.
Se7en is a chilling crime thriller that has an ending to die for, not following the usual Hollywood finish. It is an intelligent, intense film that is still as relevant today as it was when it first appeared on the big screen. This film will leave you unnerved yet thrilled and is deservedly guaranteed to be talked about for many years to come.
