Film Snail

Se7en
Se7en

8.4

Se7en

R·1995·127m

Summary

Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.

Cast

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman

Somerset

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

Mills

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow

Tracy

John Cassini

John Cassini

Officer Davis

Peter Crombie

Peter Crombie

Dr. O'Neill

Reg E. Cathey

Reg E. Cathey

Dr. Santiago

R. Lee Ermey

R. Lee Ermey

Police Captain

Daniel Zacapa

Daniel Zacapa

Detective Taylor at First Murder

Andrew Kevin Walker

Andrew Kevin Walker

Dead Man at 1st Crime Scene

George Christy

George Christy

Workman at Door of Somerset's Office

Endre Hules

Endre Hules

Cab Driver

Hawthorne James

Hawthorne James

George the Night Guard at the Library

Bob Mack

Gluttony Victim

William Davidson

First Guard at the Library

Bob Collins

Second Guard at the Library

Jimmy Dale Hartsell

Library Janitor

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Talbot

Charline Su

TV News Reporter

Dominique Jennings

Dominique Jennings

TV News Reporter

Allan Kolman

Allan Kolman

First Forensic Man in the Law Office

Beverly Burke

TV Anchor Woman

Gene Borkan

Gene Borkan

Eli Gould - Greed Victim

Julie Araskog

Julie Araskog

Mrs. Gould

Mario Di Donato

Mario Di Donato

Fingerprint Forensic Man in Law Office

Alfonso Freeman

Alfonso Freeman

Fingerprint Technician

John C. McGinley

John C. McGinley

California

Harrison White

Harrison White

Cop on SWAT Team

Bob Stephenson

Bob Stephenson

Cop on SWAT Team

Michael Reid MacKay

Michael Reid MacKay

Victor - Sloth Victim

Richard Portnow

Richard Portnow

Dr. Beardsley

Tudor Sherrard

Coupon Man Outside Pizza Parlor

Mark Boone Junior

Mark Boone Junior

Greasy F.B.I. Man

Pamala Tyson

Thin Vagrant by John Doe's Apartment

Lennie Loftin

Lennie Loftin

Policeman Who Takes Statement from Vagrant

Sarah Reinhardt

Police Sketch Artist

Emily Wagner

Emily Wagner

Detective Sara at John Doe's Apartment

Martin Serene

Martin Serene

Wild Bill

Michael Massee

Michael Massee

Man in Booth at Massage Parlor

David Correia

First Cop at Massage Parlor

Ron Blair

Ron Blair

Second Cop at Massage Parlor

Jennifer Mueller

Lust Victim

Leland Orser

Leland Orser

Crazed Man in Massage Parlor

Lexie Bigham

Lexie Bigham

Sweating Cop at Massage Parlor

Evan Mirand

Evan Mirand

Paramedic at Massage Parlor

Paul Eckstein

Paul Eckstein

Paramedic at Massage Parlor

Harris Savides

Harris Savides

911 Operator

Rachel Flanagan

Rachel Flanagan

Additional 911 Operator

Heidi Schanz

Heidi Schanz

Pride Victim

Brian Evers

Brian Evers

Duty Sergeant

Shannon Wilcox

Shannon Wilcox

Woman Cop Behind Desk

Richard Schiff

Richard Schiff

Mark Swarr

James Deeth

Helicopter Pilot

John Santin

Helicopter Pilot

Charles A. Tamburro

Charles A. Tamburro

SWAT Helicopter Pilot

Richmond Arquette

Richmond Arquette

Delivery Man

Duffy Gaver

Duffy Gaver

Marksman in Helicopter

Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey

John Doe

Charles S. Dutton

Charles S. Dutton

Cop (uncredited)

Arthur Max

Arthur Max

Man in Library (uncredited)

Crew

Director

David Fincher

Writer

Andrew Kevin Walker

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

April 14, 2020

10

He's experienced about as much pain and suffering as anyone I've encountered, give or take, and he still has Hell to look forward to. "Warning: Spoilers" Seven is directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. It stars Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey and R. Lee Ermey. Music is scored by Howard Shore and cinematography by Darius Khondji.

An unnamed US city and two cops are on the trail of a serial killer who kills his victims according to which one of the seven deadly sins they have committed.

Having been stung by the studio interference and negative fall out regarding his directorial debut feature film, Alien 3, David Fincher waited three years before committing to a project that he had control over. The result was Seven, a dark masterpiece of unremitting creeping dread that showcased the work of a clinically excellent director. Seven is not just a movie, it's an experience, an assault on the senses, a jolt to the brain, a trawl through the dark recess of some sick city where it always rains and the darkness holds many fears. This is no boorish slasher movie, it's psychological discord 101, we only see the aftermath of crimes, the discussions of which forces us to delve deep into our own imagination to fill in the blanks, forcing us to go where we don't want to go, you sense the director is somewhere gleefully pulling our strings.

"But that's the point. We see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial. We tolerate it morning, noon, and night. Well, not anymore. I'm setting the example. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever"

Seven is very much an ultimate horror film, really is there anything more scary than a serial killer who is smarter than the cops chasing him? Not only that but they are, oblivious as they be, part of the master plan. This killer is not only unstoppable in perpetrating his violent crimes, he is, as Freeman's weary retirement bound Detective Somerset says, methodical and patient. It's going to end bad, the cops know it and so do we, and that's when Fincher and Walker stick their hands into our guts and pull out the last semblance of solids to deliver one of the greatest endings of modern cinema. An ending fit to grace any noir, neo-noir or smart ass psychological horror movie from across the ages. With each viewing of Seven there's the repeating wave of bleak emotions that come as the reversed end credits roll, desolation and disbelief, sadness and shock, our trip through earthly hell is over, but only in the psychical sense!

Faultless cast performances, no doubt eked out by what we now know is a task-master director, photography that brilliantly brings to "light" the melancholic sheen of a decaying society and a Howard Shore score that crawls out of the speakers and cloaks your body like some evil Incubus or Succubus. Seven, a masterpiece of unease and evil wrung out by a master director. 10/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$33,000,000.00

Revenue:

$327,311,859.00

Keywords

rage and hate
police
s.w.a.t.
sadism
self-fulfilling prophecy
psychopath
detective
investigation
insomnia
murder
serial killer
religion
seven deadly sins
depravity
neo-noir