a dark and terrifying thriller that if you can withstand its horrific style and gritty suspense, will be realized as one of the finest films of the 90s

Rating: 8/10 (12 September 2007)

Of course, thrillers and horrors, which "Se7en" is top of the line, are not everybody's cup of tea. And many people probably would find a film such as this just simply too gory, too violent, and too graphically realistic to find appealing or even compelling. "Se7en" was not intended to be a movie for the soft-stomached, and maybe even made to twist knots in the strong-stomached. Whatever the case, it is exactly what it was intended to be: a horrifying and hair-raising thriller. But what it also possesses is excellent craftsmanship and creativity. All of the traits needed for a great film are present in "Se7en". I'll admit that the first time I saw it, I couldn't get some of the scenes out of my head. Not just because they were so brilliantly shot, but also for being so disturbing. But this did not make me dislike the film any. Sure, I got chills up my spine, but I saw it as an excellent example of film-making.
"Se7en" utilizes the basic concept of most cop movies. Two detectives, quite different from one another, try to track down a serial killer and bring him to justice. But "Se7en" takes this basic plot idea and expands it a little further to give all of the characters a purpose. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman were both magnificently flawless in their performances and gave us the impression that we were looking at real cops, not just two popular actors performing on screen. That's what I really look for in a movie with big stars on the cast list. I see if the characters are used to create good performances and characters, not just to lure people into the theater. And the serial killer, whose identity and performer I will keep anonymous for those who have never seen "Se7en" turned out to be one of the most brutal and above all, cunning serial killers and what's more, his actions had a purpose in the film. Instead of just simply murdering people for the fun of it or even having a personal problem with them, he bases his attacks on victims who he feels have committed a crime that society does not feel is worthy of a penalty. The effect of limiting his screen time helped to increase the effect of his initial appearance, very much like the shark from "Jaws".
The set designs in the film are amazing. We are never told on screen where exactly this city is located. Maybe it's Los Angeles or New York City, but whatever the case, the city is displayed as one of the most grimy and dirty cities you'd expect. We seldomly, if ever, see a clear blue sky while under the tall skyscrapers. There's smoke in the air, it's raining almost all of the time to give enhance the appearance of such a dirty environment. And then we think about the characters, one of whom has lived almost all, if not all of his life in such a place and wonder how he stayed so long.
"Se7en" is a magnficent example of 90s film-making. Perhaps it is a bit flawed in a few aspects, such as too much dialogue sequences that seem to drag on for a while longer than they should. But it works out as a thriller and horror film on an epic scale. Some people will find it too disturbing for them, but for me, it's a very well-done film with an unexpected and brilliant climax.
"Ernest Hemingway once wrote "the world is a fine place and worth fighting for" I agree with the second part." -Morgan Freeman as Detective William Somerset