Special Edition Version (DVD): Se7enth Heaven.

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2001)

This movie's title sequence alone has changed the film and television mediums forever. Even if you aren't a film buff, you will immediately recognize this after seeing this beautifully creepy, acid-washed and frantic collage of images. Fincher's stylistic use of framing, lighting, and choice of cinematographer creates a mood that sinks like a brick to the pit of your stomach.
If I were to choose a genre movie that could definetley top Johnathan Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs", this would be the one. Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwenyth Paltrow are dead-on portraying each of their characters; respectively: a detective who has requested a transfer to the non-specific city's seedier side, a veteran detective who is set to retire in seven days, and a wife who is entirely reluctant about moving to this inner-city. The events which unfold, wrap these characters into a series of situations where no viewer will guess the horrifying ending until it is fully set in motion.
Spacey alone deserves a separate paragraph. If you thought Hannibal was devious and witty (and he is), check out Mr. Spacey as John Doe. His subtle portrayal is in contrast to Mr. Hopkin's over-the-top, almost campy Hannibal Lector. Kevin Spacey sets the "creep-factor" to 10 in his vision of a truly sadistic serial killer.
Do yourself a favor, even if you aren't a noir or horror fan. See this movie, because there are a myriad of reasons to appreciate what Fincher has created. If you think you won't get into the story because this, at first glance, appears to be a glorified horror movie, you will be cheating yourself out an incredible film experience.