Seven (1995) - David Fincher

Synopsis: 

A rookie and veteran detective team up to put a stop to a vicious serial killer who's basing his victims and murders on that of the seven deadly sins.

I really like David Fincher, without a doubt one of the best directors of our time when he wants to be. Responsible for creating such classics as Fight Club, The Social Network and a highly underappreciated Alien 3, as well as being the producer of one my favourite flicks of all time, Lords of Dogtown. When you look at Seven, we can see that same Fincher DNA which runs through many of his films. The grimy, green-tinted sepia-like tone hazes over the diegesis making the audience both repelled and enchanted by the world that sits in front of them. Obviously this theme doesn’t run throughout ALL his films, but it certainly runs throughout his best. There’s something so twisted and macabre about the environment in Seven that makes you feel as uncomfortable as the characters who are wrapped up in the plot. Fincher makes you feel like you’re part of the narrative, the grim atmosphere a pathetic fallacy connoting a disturbed world which we can all recognise. Funnily enough, when the film takes you out of that environment of the bustling, rainy, cold city, and into the bright sun and open landscape you feel even worse! Fincher is probably one of the only directors that can create such a reverse effect. There is in a way a comfort when you’re in a recognised place, despite how ghastly, like it’s your home. When you’re pulled away from that and into something which should feel a lot safer, it’s as if things are too good to be true and you begin to question.

As great as the director is of course, let’s not forget our leads. The ever talented Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman really pull Seven from being a great film, into a bona fied classic. Pitt’s eager to prove himself young-gun cop juxtaposes brilliantly with Morgan’s wannabe-retired worn-down veteran outlook. Regardless of this there’s also a swapped essence between each of them as well as a joint interest in such a bizarre case that makes them so remarkable to watch. They bounce off of each other brilliantly. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Morgan Freeman carrying a full film so it’s an absolute treat to see him star opposite Brad Pitt who I feel has always faired better in a thriller role as opposed to action which he would typically get labelled with.

Within the film is also an unrelenting brutality. Not in the sense of the latter Saw films which pride themselves on torture porn. In fact it’s not even close to the Exploitation Film route which so many horror films have taken, forcing the viewer to bath (uncomfortably) in the blood soaked screen violence. I mean, you are faced with quite gruesome imagery, but the murder’s themselves are implied instead of forced upon us. Making us, the viewer, imagine what had happened to these victims, the mind a far more unforgiving place than what the BBFC or MPAA will allow filmmakers to show on screen.

Kevin Spacey in his role as John Doe, the films religiously-backwards maniac, is terrifying enough. His mindset and insistence on destruction makes him a beast that can never really be overcome because of the lack of remorse he has. This leaves us, regardless of the outcome, like there is never really a way to overcome such evil. A technically unstoppable psychopath with a thirst for chaos, makes him one of the best screen villains of recent times and a great antagonist for our heroes who are lined with such depth that you cant help but wan them to succeed. The whole structure of the film is unique and has an exciting pace, even when ‘action’ isn’t the drive of the piece. Simply an implied atmosphere and ambience drummed into our minds by a very talented director.

Overview:

Legendary cast + Master director = One hell of a classic film. Can you give seven stars? For dragging you into such a hellish world and making you love every minute of it, it sure as hell deserves it. 

Rating:

★★★★★