One of the greatest murder mysteries ever filmed

Rating: 10/10 (11 June 2009)

Director David Fincher entered the world of directing on the heels of one of the most classic American Sci-Fi franchises of all time, the Alien series. He followed James Cameron's classic "Aliens" with the not quite as critically acclaimed Alien 3. However, he has since shown us that he can indeed compete with the likes of Cameron and other A-list directors. He is most widely known for the immense cult classic "Fight Club" and Oscar monster "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", but his first stand-alone film after Alien 3 was the brilliant and classy crime thriller "Seven." This film proves that right from the start Fincher was a force to be reckoned with. This of course isn't to underplay the excellence of the screenwriter, Andrew Kevin Walker, or the intense and spine-tingling score by Howard Shore, or the excellent performances by all actors, including the actor who plays the killer (as the actor was kept under wraps during the marketing for this film, and isn't in the credits until the very end, i won't reveal who it is but it's one of my person favorites). This movie is a prime example of all elements of great film-making coming together to make something that is simply beautiful.
Probably the strongest element of this film is the way it unfolds. "Seven" is a master class in story-telling. The plot is handled with care and expertise. Fincher knows just the right times to be subtle, and make you really pay attention to catch everything, and then when to throw something directly in your face. While the film tells the story of probably one of the most sadistic and disturbing serial killers of all time, none of the killings are actually shown on screen. Instead, the film crew used other means of conveying the gruesome details, things like dialogue and pictures. It gives the characters a much better chance to drive the story forward, and it forces you to use your imagination which makes the more disturbing points all the more haunting.
While this film really is not an action movie, the small bit of action there is in the film is very exciting, and the dark, haunting nature of the film will leave a lasting impact on you for sure. This is helped along by Howard Shore's subtle yet fantastic score.
Seven is without a doubt one of the greatest murder mysteries ever filmed. It is a lesson in suspense and plot-development and a triumph for all involved in its making. Make no mistake, this is not a happy film, but it's a must-see for all true fans of good cinema.