Overview
Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die.
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.
Review
Se7en is currently hanging around at #16 on my Top 25 Horror Movies of All Time. This David Fincher film is a classic, no doubt, but the main drawback is that it’ll never get better on a rewatch. The way Se7en’s story unfolds and sticks that perfect landing/ending is unforgettable. But that initial rush you get at the end of the movie is diminished. The movie is dark, bleak, shot almost 100% in the pouring rain. Perfect soundtrack including early Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie. Although there’s a religious/quasi-righteous undertone at play, there’s that conflictive streak of nihilism running amok.
As dark as Se7en is, its horror elements are matched by thriller and crime. There’s really no graphic scenes of gore or death, but a lot left in the aftermatch, to our own imagination which is effective horror. Both Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt mesh well, especially Pitt being the young, arrogant detective who is sucked into the underbelly of it all.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
