Se7en (David Fincher, 1995): US

Reviewed by Nicole Bacher. Viewed at the 2009 Santa Barbara Film Festival.

l_86759_0114369_c7f45f6d2Gluttony, greed, envy, sloth, wrath, pride, and lust are the seven deadly sins that are punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher’s thriller Se7en. Set in a gloomy unknown city, the film follows Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a retiring police detective, who is a meticulous, thoughtful man who prefers to work in silence. As he experiences his final week on the job, he reluctantly starts working with rookie Mills (Brad Pitt). When an obese man is found brutally murdered in his home, the seasoned Somerset realizes this is no ordinary killing. Other slayings occur leading Somerset and Mills on a desperate search to find the mysterious John Doe, who is responsible for these murders.

As the case starts to build, both Somerset and Mills become more involved than they ever could have imagined. The film cleverly avoids depicting most acts of violence on screen, focusing instead on the cryptic remains of the crimes, allowing viewers to investigate along with the detectives. The music, the faded tones, the close-ups and quick cutting are all so unusual and unique. From the moment the movie began, I immediately felt mesmerized and was drawn in. Rain is used constantly throughout the film to convey a gloomy unsettling mood. Every scene is yellow, gray and dim. When there is light, it’s usually bright.

One great scene is when Mills is pursuing the murderer, whose face we never see, through a series of buildings and over-crowded streets. Somehow the chase scene manages to evoke a genuine fear, and you never really know who is chasing whom. Moreover, Fincher handles the violence with sensitivity, announcing its obscenity in spoken analysis and briefly glimpsed post mortem shots, but never showing the murderous acts themselves.

If you’re not one for all the blood and gore, you might want to think twice before seeing this movie. Director David Fincher doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing us the various victims in all their grim detail. Overall, this film is exciting all the way until the very end. I recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery.

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Published:
02.05.09 / 9pm
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009