A One Mann’s Movies review of “Se7en” (1995).
In one of those “oh my God, I’m getting so old so fast” moments, David Fincher’s “Se7en” is getting a “30th Anniversary re-release”.
Now, I don’t want to appear picky, but “Se7en”‘s release in the UK was on the 5th January 1996. So it’s actually the 29th Anniversary of the film. And even if you were working off the US release date, you’d have to wait until the end of September to meet its 30th Anniversary. (I’m not sure why film companies do this… I find it irrationally annoying… but that might just be me!)
Regardless of that, “Se7en” is a stone-cold classic of the genre and cemented Brad Pitt’s status as a true movie star.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Se7en” Plot Summary:
Rookie detective Mills (Brad Pitt) is partnered with the grizzled old-timer Somerset (Morgan Freeman). Somerset is just a week away from his retirement when a strange and gruesome murder is committed. Somerset wants to duck it, reasoning that he won’t have time to see it through. But the keen-as-mustard and cock-sure Mills persists and as murder after murder happen, a gruesome pattern begins to emerge.
Certification:
UK: 18; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Sexual violence references, strong violence, disturbing scenes”.)
Talent:
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Directed by: David Fincher.
Written by: Andrew Kevin Walker.
Running Time: 2h 7m.
“Se7en” Summary:
Positives:
- One of the more effective ‘buddy cop’ pairings, the film takes time to establish the relationship between the odd couple.
- An intriguing story with suitably grisly murders, some of which are very disturbing.
- Each scene shows practically perfect construction.
- Superb performances from Freeman and particularly Pitt, especially in….
- …one of the most famous finales in movie history.
Negatives:
- The relationship within the story rather borrows from “Lethal Weapon 3”.
Review of “Se7en”:
Murders grisly enough to merit an ’18’ certificate.
It is unusual for the BBFC to classify a film like this above a ’15’ certificate. (It’s not as if this was an “18” carried forwards from 1995 when ‘things were stricter’: the film was re-certified for this 2025 re-release.) The reason for this one getting the ’18’ certificate is the grisly nature of the murders, all themed around the seven deadly sins. For example, a man is force fed until he effectively internally explodes (Gluttony); a man is starved to death strapped to a bed (Sloth); and a disfigured female model has to choose (very “Saw” style) to live with it or commit suicide (Pride). Worst of all is forcing a man to simultaneouly rape and murder a prostitute using a deadly strap-on deadly dildo (Lust).
They are sufficiently “yuk” to make you really believe you are dealing with a fanatical nut-job… which is where you need to be to make the finale work.
Odd-couple buddy cops.
Fincher takes the time to develop the relationship between the odd couple of Mills and Somerset. Somerset, perfectly played by the great Morgan Freeman, is an odd fish: intense, a details man, brilliant at his job but strangely single and a bit lonely. Mills is ambitious, arrogant, easily riled but increasingly respectful of the old timer. A key scene in establishing all of the moving parts of the film is the dinner party scene where Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow) invites Somerset to their flat for a meal. It allows Somerset to be emotionally linked to Tracy. It also allows Somerset to see the softer, more playful, side of Mills. It’s just perfectly pitched.
The only criticism of the film I really have is that the plot – odd couple cops with one who is just a week from retirement – is ‘borrowed’ from Richard Donner’s “Lethal Weapon 3”, released three years earlier.
One of the most memorable finales in cinema history.
*** This sub-section will obviously involve spoilers if you haven’t seen the film! ***
The film received a single Oscar nomination: that of Film Editing. But arguably the screenplay for this should also have got a nod, since the finale of the film has immaculate plotting. From the moment that the delivery truck appears on the horizon (and having seen the film before) a large grin filled my face in anticipation for the cinematic drama to come. How was the overly-confident John Doe (a pitch-perfect Kevin Spacey) going to execute the last two murders (representing Envy and Wrath) when he was already in police custody?
The answer is the famous delivery of the small cardboard box! It is a perfect piece of directorial decision-making by Fincher to NOT show what was in the box but to leave it to be more vivid imagination of the audience. It’s the sort of thing Hitchcock would have done. Yet, I bet if you asked 100 people if they remember seeing “the cut where Tracy’s head is in the box” they will say “yes”, they did! That’s how strong the memory of that movie moment is!
As a curious bit of (well known) movie trivia, Fincher did indeed have a realistic model of Gwyneth Paltrow’s head made up to use in the shot, but never used it. It’s always a crime to let a good prop go to waste. Thus, when Paltrow’s character, Beth Emhoff, needed to have an autopsy in the 2011 epidemic drama “Contagion”, Steven Soderbergh reused the head.
Brad Pitt’s dramatic moment
It is in this finale scene that Brad Pitt stands out for his acting ability. His torment between ‘doing what’s right’ and exacting revenge is just so raw and believable. You really want to know the resolution of the court case: surely it would it be involuntary manslaughter rather than murder? The year before, Pitt had ‘broken out’, starring with Tom Cruise in “Interview With A Vampire” and with Anthony Hopkins in “Legends of the Fall”. But arguably “this”Se7en” was the film that catapulted him into the major league of Leading Men in the movie business.
Why didn’t Fincher get a Best Director nod?
A prolific director of music videos, this was only David Fincher’s second film after the much maligned (but, retrospectively, more appreciated) “Alien 3” in 1992. It was surely a crime that Fincher didn’t get nominated for Best Director at the 1996 Oscars given that this is probably his most famous film. (The nominees were Mel Gibson – “Braveheart” (winner); Chris Noonan – “Babe”; Tim Robbins – “Dead Man Walking”; Mike Figgis – “Leaving Las Vegas” and Michael Radford – “Il Postino”). Every scene in the film feels meticulously planned and executed. Even a random scene in a diner, as the camera pans across the other diners to Mills and Somerset’s table, feels “special” for some reason.
Summary Thoughts on “Se7en”
A classic thriller that feels just about perfect in every respect. Fincher’s film may be (nearly!) 30 years old, but it feels as fresh as if it was made yesterday.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Se7en”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPOuJGkpblk.
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