Sublime mix of madness and sanity

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2001)

I've just finished watching Se7en for the first time since its cinema release, and I'm pleased to advise you seekers of truth that every 'serial killer' film produced before or since still cannot match it. I won't repeat the many superlatives that have been deservedly heaped on the film by other reviewers above/below; suffice it to say that its bleak nature, unremitting gloom and taut storytelling go to make up a sublime mix of madness and sanity. Here we have director Fincher's most satisfying work to date (and yes, that includes FIGHT CLUB!), in the form of a cinematic 'pound of flesh', cooked medium-rare, and served on an almost-stainless silver platter.
Boasting killer performances (pun intended) from all, the subject of 'theme killings' (not put to such effective use since the OTT Vincent Price 1970s classics THE ABOMINABLE DR PHIBES and THEATRE OF BLOOD) adds a finite touch to the numerous deaths involved, and lends the story a 'mythic' strength that it might not otherwise possess. By revealing only the aftermaths of the various murders in a similar fashion to that utilised in HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, Fincher stealthily avoids the 'exploitation' tag that could so easily have resulted from the presentation of such a subject. BONE COLLECTOR, COPYCAT, Freeman's subsequent KISS THE GIRLS - lower your candles in awe, gentlemen.
See it, for the love of Mike. You may love it or loathe it, but you won't be able to forget it.
As a footnote, the 2-disc special edition DVD is the one to watch, with its four separate commentaries (total viewing time - together with the film as is - ten hours!) and a whole host of extras. However, the Se7en completist may also like to hunt down the SE laserdisc boxed set. The format may be associated with the words 'elephant' and 'white' these days, yet not only are the LD's extras almost entirely different from those on the DVD, but they also feature a couple of contributions from spfx guru Rob Bottin, who is mysteriously absent from the DVD version.