This really is very good

Rating: 9/10 (6 October 2001)

I never specifically asked for this film. In fact, it was bought for me, with money left over from buying 'The Shining'. But am I ever glad it was bought for me.
This is really great stuff. A dark rain-soaked city gave it style, superb performances by Morgan Freeman as a burned out veteran, and by Brad Pitt as hot-shot David Mills gave it creditable performances. John Doe was suitably chilling, and the plot unfolded brilliantly.
A few people say that the gore should have been cut back, but this is something I disagree with. Not because I'm a gore-hound, but the scenes of almost untamed brutality injected the horror of the whole situation into the stylish surroundings. The sloth victim in particular. A whole year....
There are some minor gripes however. I felt that the majority of time was spent on the first three victims, then the rest of them were slightly rushed through. At the end car ride, I was still guessing how exactly it was going to end. When the box made an appearance though, I knew straight away what was in it, although I didn't know how Mills would react until he did.
Lastly, and this is nothing to do with the actual film itself, but I am positively baffled by people who say that it frightened them, and that it was scary. This film was very atmospheric, and at times, it was somewhat edgy. But scary? Don't make me laugh.
Anyway, a superb modern horror.
9.5/10 - Highly recommended.