Se7en

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Horrorphile - November 2007

Se7en

November 12th 2007 12:49

Written as The Seven Deadly Sins, but shortened to the conceptual and smartass title of Se7en (1995), director David Fincher’s neo-noir tale of a serial killer, the pitch black brilliance in the execution of his master plan, and the two policemen who are desperately trying to get catch him, is a stroke of genius.

The superb screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker unfolds with a stylish clarity, atmospheric intensity and visceral edge crime seldom seen in drama-buddy flicks. But it’s the hybrid noir-horror feel of the movie that makes it so damn interesting; a twisted morality tale sunken in the mire of sociopathic absolution and the sins of the good and pure. It’s wonderful when Hollywood puts on its filthy boots and starts stomping down the back alleys, which it does so very rarely.

Brad Pitt as Detective Mills and Morgan Freeman as Detective Somerset

Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a seasoned veteran of the streets, is teamed up with eager young detective Mills (Brad Pitt), whom has just moved to the big city with his wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). There’s been a homicide, and a bizarre and grotesque one at that. An obese man has been found dead at his kitchen table. It appears he ate himself to death.

Mills and wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow)

Days later another man is discovered dead, a wealthy white-collar, in a pool of blood in his office. A pound of flesh had been carved from his belly. Somerset and Mills piece together the clues, and Somerset realises they are dealing with two of the seven deadly sins; gluttony and avarice, which means there’s another five to go: sloth, lust, pride, envy and wrath. And who is this novel killer?

Police discover the victim of sloth

While Somerset researches further into the theology and mythology of the deadly sins in an effort to understand the modus operandi of "John Doe" (the name given to a dead person, or killer, whom is unidentifiable), Mills scoffs at the idea of trying to get inside the mind of the killer. It is this juxtaposition of personal ideals and the inherent personality clash between the two homicide detectives which provides the movie with much of its dark charm.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Director Fincher paints the city as a netherworld of perpetual rain and misery. Somerset is invited round to Mills apartment to have dinner with his wife Tracy and the trains thundering past every few minutes causes the entire apartment to shake. Somerset feels for the couple, strangely naïve in their frustration of the big smoke.

The killer ambushes Mills

But it's the wicked playfulness and murderous agenda of the killer which is driving Somerset and Mills to the brink. Mills feels a need to prove something, a hotshot cowboy wrestling with an insolent and stubborn bull, whilst Somerset is aghast at the horrific nature of the crimes, trying with much difficulty to understand why there should be such inhumanity in the world. Mills simply thinks the killer is nuts and needs to be taken out, pronto.

Mills and Somerset inspect the victim of pride

It is inevitable there will be a collision of some kind, but the question is, what kind of collateral damage will there be when the crash does occur? And therein lies the movie’s inspired construct. I won’t say anymore. The film’s “beauty” lies in not knowing how the movie ends. If you’ve had the ending spoiled for you, I feel for you. Se7en came out twelve years ago, so chances are, you’ve seen the movie, but it is one of those Crying Game movies where people who’ve seen it should shut the fuck up when talking about the ending in front of those who haven’t.

Kevin Spacey as clever killer John Doe

There are some truly impressive set-pieces in Se7en, the special effects make-up work depicting the aftermaths of the murders is fantastic, the horrendousness of the “lust” murder (and we don’t even see that poor victim, only the appalling weapon!) is enough to give any person (let alone woman) nightmares for weeks! And the “sloth” sequence is damn freaky!

Mills opens a pivotal package sent from John Doe

Darius Khondji’s cinematography is terrific, Howard Shore’s score is moody and effective (also of note is the opening and closing music provided by Nine Inch Nails) and performances are all good (Brad Pitt can often annoy me, but he delivers the goods here). Especially memorable is Kevin Spacey, in one of his early scene-stealing performances, as John Doe.

Se7en is CSI and Law & Order for cine intellectuals. It’s urban horror for the crime-heads. It’s almost Shakespearean in its tragedy. Se7en is sinfully good.

Here's the original theatrical trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

10 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Norm

November 12th 2007 23:05

Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power

Bryn,
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
I just can't remember what.
That's right.

The script is what makes it great.

Norm

Comment by Miswanderlust

November 13th 2007 04:05

Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy

Bryn
One of my favs.... love creepy Kevin Spacey!
Mis

Comment by Mountain Fog

November 13th 2007 04:30

Infognito

Hey there Lord Bryn,
another great review, brilliantly crafted...and...unlike sooo many 'eff-wits' calling themselves professional reviewers, your review does not give away the entire movie, blow by blow, and you courteously avoid mentioning the ending. That shows real class!

Nice work!

I nominate you for Horror Reviewer of the Year!

[cheers

fog

P.S. Oh yes nearly forgot; I agree, Seven has to rate up there, no way past, the shock ending of Sixth Sense, (I didn't catch on till it was revealed in that movie...bit dumb that day!).

Seven was amazing...and horrible...what an ending!!

Comment by Bryn

November 13th 2007 04:44

Horrorphile

Hey guys, cheers, and yes, the screenplay is what certainly makes the movie, but Fincher put the dark icing on the macabre cake!

fog, that's an interesting idea! cheers!

Comment by Mountain Fog

November 13th 2007 06:20

Infognito

fog, that's an interesting idea! cheers!

Thanks Bryn,

I have elaborated on that idea in a post, entitled;

The Golden Orb Awards!!!!

My idea of its name.

Check out the details and add to the list of Award ideas or comment as you see fit, I have written to Jon and am awaiting his response on how Orble will receive the idea.

But, the more support for the idea the better in convincing them!

cheers

fog

Comment by Michaelie

November 13th 2007 10:37

Flick Wit

Awe-inspiring film, great crescendo to the story in the desert, and Spacey was brilliant.

Great review, Bryn.

What do you mean by

enough to give any person (let alone woman) nightmares for weeks!

Hope you're not suggesting us girls are lily-livered!

Michaelie

Comment by Bryn

November 14th 2007 03:50

Horrorphile

Michaelie, not at all, I was referring to the manner of death the female victim of "lust" suffers .... There are in fact two victims of lust, one is the woma who dies, the other is the man forced by John Doe (no doubt at gunpoint) to perpertrate the act with the dildo-from-hell.

Comment by Michaelie

November 14th 2007 13:38

Flick Wit

Ah-hah. Lol.

Comment by MelissaA

November 16th 2007 10:24

Fun Facts

I remember all the hype in the lead up to this movie, and I think that was ruined it for me in the end - I really didn't think it was as over the top grotesque as they were making out. i had also been hoping for a bit more in the ending.

Maybe If I hadn't heard anything and then gone to see it it would have been OK. Either that or I'm too desensitised to this type of thing anymore......????

Comment by Bryn

November 17th 2007 02:22

Horrorphile

Melissa, yes, hype and expectation are terrible things. I just had the same experience happen with me for Tarantino's Death Proof. In my mind it was going to be a much more visceral, clever and subversive movie than it turned out to be. I still enjoyed it, but the expectation and the hype dampened the movie ... You get that from time to time. Se7en is certainly a movie where if you know sweet little about it, it packs a punch.

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[ Next - Irréversible ]

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