Se7en

Se7en

Drama (Horror, Thriller)

1995

Rated: R

Running Time: 127 minutes

Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Emery

Directed By: David Fincher

Rating: 8 out of 10

Outline

Two cops are on the trail of a serial killer using the seven deadly sins to commit his murders.

Review

The weather has been super dark and dismal in Toronto the last few days so I decided to throw the movie Se7en into my PS-3. This film is best enjoyed when the rain is beating down on the roof and the sun is a distant memory. The movie Se7en is the story of two cops named detective Mills and detective Somerset. They are trying to track down a serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins as his template for killing.

Se7en has the uncanny ability to stick with you long after it has been watched. There is something so bleak and haunting about this film that it will make other cop/serial killer movies pale in comparison. It is a well drawn out story of human atrocity and vileness. The film is brilliantly shot as it always seems to be raining or it is in the blackness of night (or both.) When the sun does show up it makes the movie even eerier as it seems out of place in this city of despair. The film starts and we get to see the new guy Mills and the old veteran Somerset investigating a serial killer of mass intelligence. I loved this film because for once the killer wasn’t leaving super easy or unbelievable clues to follow. His biblical messages are shockingly detailed and macabre making the victims a disgusting sight to behold. Everything in this film works magic on the viewer. The buildings where the victims are found are dark and decrepit. The bodies are in varied states of torture and decomposition. The killer is not one step ahead of the cops he is ten steps ahead making this film a great watch.

Detective Mills and Detective Somerset are played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman respectively. They both make this movie work as well as it does. Pitt plays this brash and inexperienced detective while Freeman plays the introverted and highly intelligent one. There are like night and day together but both seem to be able to deliver this movie in the right direction. I obviously won’t say who the killer is but he is fantastic and delivers his maniacal message with calm and precision. The acting only enhances the power of the story and the two detectives budding work relationship helps out more than one would think.

The film never seems to falter as it makes its way from crime scene to crime scene. The viewer will get caught up in the varied array of techniques that the detectives use to bring down the killer. They use anything from forensic science to classic literature to bring down this biblical monster. The viewer will also get caught up in killers motives which is another cool aspect. Bottom line in the world of thrillers Se7en ranks among the best as it has the ability to creep you out and couples that with an awesome story. The beauty of this film is as the end approaches it hasn’t spoon fed you the conclusion. In the days of tired and clichéd stories this film separates itself from that mode. The ending doesn’t disappoint and that is saying a lot when the rest of the film is so spot on. If you love thrillers this is not to be missed.

Director David Fincher is one of my favorites and this is one of his best in a pretty great career (Fight Club, Zodiac.) He takes a fantastic script (Andrew Kevin Walker) and shoots a story that hits you full force. The dark cinematography and inclement weather set the tone for a truly dark and depressing film. The characters are brilliantly portrayed and are believable which is really hard to do in films of this nature. The film never seems to drag even though it is a shade over two hours running time. This film ranks as one of the best thrillers of all time.

I give this movie a big recommendation as it sets the standard for cop/killer thrillers.

T Factor + If you like Brad Pitt as an actor this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like more action in your thrillers this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Bone Collector, Kiss the Girls.