Fincher and Walker take these hackneyed ingredients, play with them in the context of a brilliantly cohesive plot, and present something consistently fresh -- and very, very dark.
Seven (1995)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:9
Fresh:6
Rotten:3
Average Rating:6.5/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher's... Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher's bleak thriller SEVEN. Set in a perpetually gloomy unnamed city, the film follows Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a retiring police detective, as he experiences his final week on the job, reluctantly working with assertive newcomer Mills (Brad Pitt). When an obese man is found brutally murdered in his home, the seasoned Somerset realizes this is no ordinary killing--someone tortured him because of his appetite. Slayings that reflect the sins of greed and sloth soon follow, leading Somerset and Mills on a desperate search to find the mysterious John Doe, who is responsible for these methodical murders. As the case builds to a startling conclusion, both Somerset and Mills become more involved than they ever could have imagined. After a brief opening scene, SEVEN immediately cuts to a highly stylized title sequence. An intricate collage of books and photos, scissors and razors, and blood and skin eerily captures the dark, graphic tone of Fincher's intriguing mystery. The film cleverly avoids depicting most acts of violence onscreen, focusing instead on the cryptic remains of the crimes, allowing viewers to investigate along with the detectives. An example of nearly flawless filmmaking, the movie features a meticulously crafted screenplay, brilliant photography and design, sure-handed direction, and excellent performances from the entire cast. All of these elements combine to amazing effect in the film's unforgettably stunning finale. [More]
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, John Cassini, Bob Mack, Peter Crombie, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Portnow, Daniel Zacapa, Andy Walker
Director: David Fincher
Director: David Fincher
Screenwriter: Andrew Kevin Walker
Producer: Phyllis Carlyle, Arnold Kopelson
Composer: Howard Shore
Reviews for Seven
Fincher handles the violence with sensitivity, announcing its obscenity in spoken analyses and briefly glimpsed post mortem shots, but never showing the murderous acts themselves.
The pace is fast and the shocks build beautifully. The actors within it all reel with convincing horror.
dark, gripping thriller which saves its most shocking revelations for the final scenes.
The crime scenes are rendered in sickening detail, and the whole film has a murky, madly pretentious tone.
Noticeable skill has gone into the making of Seven, but it's hard to take much pleasure in that.
It is very tiresome peering through the gloom trying to catch a glimpse of something interesting, then having to avert one's eyes when it turns out to be just another brutally tormented body.
Good as it is, it misses greatness by not quite finding the right way to end.
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