Se7en Review

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2019)

I can't believe that I hadn't seen one before, and I'm glad that I did managed to see it. Se7en is often considered to be one of the finest examples of modern crime thrillers and has established David Fincher as one of the finest directors in Hollywood.
Set within the course of seven days, it follows two homicide detectives who are on the hunt for a serial killer that based his crimes on the seven deadly sins. As the plot unfolds, a friction arises between the two detectives and how they go about their work as they both race against time to prevent the killer from succeeding his sadistic work.
Easily Fincher's darkest film to date, this movie is dripping with an unsettling atmosphere. Right from the opening scene, it lets you know exactly what kind of world we're entering; the lighting, the bleak shadows, the deterioration of the crime-ridden city, the constant rainfall that happens during exterior shots; all of these make the setting feel unsettling and gives the viewers a sense of dread that builds up all the way to the end. The story and the screenplay is masterfully crafted and the slightest details all play a part in the overall narrative.
The cast delivers a great performance; Morgan Freeman is very likable as Somerset, an aging detective who has been through hell and is ready to retire and live a peaceful life, but finds that he keeps getting drawn into all the chaos that's happening. Brad Pitt is also good as Mills, a young detective who, while determined to find the killer, he's overly ambitious and is completely naive to the whole situation. Their chemistry is what also makes them great; Mills is cocky and impulsive, while Somerset is calm and self-controlled, and both men try to work off each other.
However, the character who steals the show is the serial killer "John Doe" himself. As soon as he reveals himself to the audience, you can tell he's dripping with dread and evil accompanying him and how he manages to orchestrate his evil plans, all in which builds up to one hell of an intense finale that I refuse to spoil here, but I will say it will make your skin crawl long after you see it.
Overall, Se7en still remains as one of the definitive examples of the exploration of the mind of a serial killer and how he manages to do it instead of why he did it, made possible by Fincher's gritty vision that doesn't sugarcoat it. This dark, relentless, and original tale still remains effective now as it was in 1995. One of Fincher's best works; highly recommend it.
Final Verdict: 10/10 with an Epic Seal of Awesomeness.