Se7en (1995)

Directed by: David Fincher | 127 minutes | drama, thriller, crime | Actors: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R. Lee Ermey, Andrew Kevin Walker, Daniel Zacapa, John Cassini, Bob Mack, Peter Crombie, Reg E. Cathey, George Christy, Endre Hules, Hawthorne James, William Davidson

Sometimes there are those movies that set a trend. ‘Se7en’ (1995) is one of them. This dark, cleverly conceived thriller about a mysterious serial killer by David Fincher made such an impression that many similar films soon followed. Each and every one inferior to one of the masterpieces of the nineties, ‘Se7en’. The film’s strength lies in the fact that it is not so much a search for the perpetrator. No, the strong point is precisely that Fincher holds up a mirror to his viewers. Because ‘Se7en’ is mainly about the sins in the world. And we are all guilty of that to a greater or lesser degree. The story of ‘Se7en’ was written by Andrew Kevin Walker, who before the film brought him great success working as a cashier in a record store. Walker draws a remarkable comparison between murder and the creation of art.

‘Se7en’ revolves around the detectives William Somerset and David Mills. About to retire, Somerset is given the task of initiating newcomer Mills in his final week. Their views on detective work – and on the world – are quite different; young Mills is energetic and aggressive and solely focused on catching criminals. The thoughtful, experienced and well-read Somerset, on the other hand, attaches much more value to the process of searching for traces and collecting evidence. The serial killer that both have to go after selects his victims in a very special way; based on the seven deadly sins (gluttony, greed, laziness, lust, vanity, envy and anger) they have committed. With his murders, the perpetrator, John Doe, hopes to preach a message to what he sees as a dilapidated world full of sin, to which we close our eyes. Mills and Somerset are tasked with stopping this gory, sadistic game.

The differences between the two detectives may be a bit exaggerated, but they do ensure that the gentlemen complement each other. To point out the difference, Somerset thinks the solution to the murders lies in the library and struggles through Chaucer, Milton and Dante. Mills thinks that is too much work and limits himself to reading the summaries. But when doors have to be broken open, Mills stands his ground. Both Pitt and Freeman are good in their roles, although there are moments when the first is completely outplayed by his older colleague who was put into his mouth wise, almost poetic words from Walker. The supporting roles are also great, although the role of Mills’ wife Tracy might have been developed a bit more when top actress Gwyneth Paltrow was contracted. Now the viewer sees little of what she has to offer. Kevin Spacey steals the show in the film’s equally horrifying and unsurpassedly brilliant final chord.

Not only the script and the acting are excellent. The dark, mournful atmosphere of the film is crucial to the effect. For example, it almost always rains and many dark shadows are used to emphasize the grim atmosphere. The special role of the murderer, a disturbed but articulate man with a well-thought-out plan for which there is still something to be said, is also different from other films. Not to mention the film’s apotheosis, which the viewer will remember for a long time to come. Together with ‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995) and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991), ‘Se7en’ forms an illustrious trio of unforgettable thrillers from the nineties that every film lover must see!