Review: Se7en

Directed by: David Fincher

Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker

Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey

Rating: [5/5]

Stories surrounding serial killers have boomed in popularity due to the fascination people have with individuals who would commit such heinous crimes. They want to understand what could make someone go out and do such a thing. This obsession has appeared in the non-fiction side with real killers, but no other filmmaker has dominated in the fictional side on the depravity of these murderers than David Fincher and his immaculate work in Se7en stands as the most towering achievement of this entire genre. 

Newly transferred to homicide in New York City, David Mills (Brad Pitt) partners with William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) who is nearing retirement. The case they get put on initially involves an overly obese man murdered through sick means but they begin to discover in subsequent murders a pattern begins to emerge regarding the seven deadly sins. 

When fully taking in the sheer brilliance of something like Se7en, you just have to stand up and applaud how meticulously it all comes together. Perfectly crafted from beginning to end through every facet of filmmaking where you almost cannot believe it actually exists. Other serial killer films come a dime a dozen but to this day none hold a candle to what gets accomplished in this feature. This film captures the grotesqueness of what occurs without getting too exploitative while also pairing together some impeccable performances at the center. When learning more about the minds behind putting it together it only makes more and more sense it led to success and has proven to be an all-timer. 

Beginning with a trademark Ficher opening sequence, this feature gets right into the heinous action bringing together these two officers as it shows the disgusting details of what this serial killer does. You get the introduction of Mills and Somerset as the hot-headed and eager young man and the seasoned wisdom-filled veteran respectively. You see them clash and form a partnership centered on getting to this serial killer, which blossoms into quite the friendship. All of it happens so organically and as they continue to venture into this maze set before them; they remind the glue keeping everything together. 

On a visual level, the initial scene introduces us to a very dark-looking New York City. Each room has this stale darkness to it with the only thing bringing any light coming in the form of cheap fluorescents showing this a world not worth living in. This especially becomes the case when seeing the depravity going on with this serial killer. Undoubtedly an intentional case by cinematographer Darius Khondji and David Fincher. The lighting and the staging demonstrate how miserable this circumstance can make someone like Somerset to the points he would want to leave for his own sanity. The city has descended into chaos when you have someone like this serial killer running around. It gives this feeling these characters have stepped into hell with someone like Mills’s wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) introducing some moments of sanity for all involved. 

Following the second murder, the name of the game becomes quite evident as this serial killer will continue to murder based on all of the seven deadly sins, which include gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy, lust, greed, and pride. The only question remains in what order will the two officers find these victims have died corresponding to those sins and what finale does his serial killer have in mind when he finally completes them all. The magic trick this film accomplishes, as a result, is nothing short of brilliant. Something no one will see coming but for those who have seen it and rewatch the film, the path to the inevitable conclusion still works exquisitely well. This occurs because of the exceptional writing in piecing together a story such as this. It allows for the breadcrumbs to all make sense and come together to form something worthwhile and utterly fantastic when looking at it as a whole. 

As much as this feature relishes in the moral decay of society due to the actions of the serial killer, it presents consistent moral quandaries for Mills and Somerset as they navigate this investigation. On multiple occasions, it begs the question of what lines can or cannot be crossed when trying to catch someone as terrible as the serial killer at the center of it all. Especially when you have a killer mocking the officers and getting a sense of enjoyment from the murders they commit, can there truly be this clear good versus evil battle without some mud landing on all involved in order to reach a sense of finality? Mills and Somerset certainly test this theory throughout the feature as this battle of the minds wages on. 

When operating at his height, which is most of the time, David Fincher becomes the envy of everyone around him as this man knows how to craft a story together. Considering this feature followed his directorial debut, which served as a terrible experience and he follows it up with an undisputed masterpiece truly speaks to what this man has always had the capability of achieving. He received the opportunity to flex his directorial muscles and man he creates something rugged, nasty, but utterly satisfying in the way it all comes together. He attacks each of his films with this distinct precision and demonstrates early on his special talent. It’s what makes this man appointment viewing where you don’t need to hear a new plot synopsis, title or cast to get me out to watch a Fincher film. Just tell me he’s directing it and I’m there. 

Delivering one of those iconic and shocking endings in all of cinema, it caps off an incredible journey and film in Se7en. It’s hard to imagine any other serial killer film could ever measure up and reach the level of excellence achieved here with all of its awe-inducing elements. Something so intelligently crafted where watching back on multiple viewings makes it an even richer experience even if you know how it all ends. A bonafide masterwork delivered by a true living legend of filmmaking.