Synopsis:

​The film follows two detectives, detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and detective Mills (Brad Pitt) as they hunt down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as their motives.

Cold Open

This film had me on edge from the beginning. It opens with no music or fanfare, only the ambient sounds of police sirens and vehicles honking. We are then introduced to our first character, Detective Somerset (Freeman), as he slowly and meticulously gets ready before heading out to a crime scene.

Our second character is introduced at the crime scene: Detective Mills (Pitt) eagerly jogs up the stairs to introduce himself to Detective Somerset. With this interaction and the following scene, we get a sense of who these characters are and where they are in their careers. By using a cold open to start the film, the audience is thrown straight into the deep end with a sense of dread, with no real certainty of who these characters are or what is about to happen. The use of no score or soundtrack until the very end, before the opening credits, only amplifies that feeling.

Monday to Sunday

With the title of the film being ‘Seven,’. I should have known that, apart from the killer’s motives surrounding the seven deadly sins. The film would heavily feature the number seven. Nevertheless, the utilisation of a seven-day structure was brilliant. It made following the film easy for a simpleton like myself. Also it ensured the pacing of the film never felt dragged or rushed because we are essentially the third detective attempting to solve this mystery alongside Detective Somerset and Mills. It also adds that ticking time bomb effect. Where with each passing day, we are counting down to the inevitable conclusions. What that conclusion is, you have to watch the film to find out.

Palms are Sweaty

This is the second film from director David Fincher that I have seen, with ‘Gone Girl’ being the first. Regrettably, I do not remember anything apart from the big twist in that film. So, for argument’s sake, this is my first time watching a David Fincher film. And I must say, I’m thoroughly impressed.

I was already taken aback by how well the film was directed throughout. With Fincher showcasing tension, action, and even humour in such a dark setting. Then came the climax of the film. Fincher’s ability to simultaneously portray calm and chaos in the final sequence was something I had not seen in a film to date. With everything leading up to this point, the entire film hinged on how Sunday turned out. I had heard the term ‘palms are sweaty’ before, yet I had never experienced the feeling until now. The end of the film had my anxiety through the roof; I was nervously fidgeting and could not sit still in my chair.

Freeman and Pitt

Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of a veteran detective at the end of his career was unsurprisingly stellar. Freeman’s ability to convey that Detective Somerset is a man who, for lack of a better term, ‘has seen some shit’—excuse my French—is second to none. Brad Pitt’s characterization of Detective Mills as a gung-ho new detective eager to prove his worth was better than good but not yet great. At times, I found his character annoying, irritable, and in need of just shutting his mouth and listening. However, it is Brad Pitt, so he brought a lot of charm and charisma to a character one could easily dislike.

​​The Seven Deadly Sins 

Apart from the directing, where the film shines is in the story. Writer Andrew Kevin Walker masterfully tells a relatively simple story of two detectives hunting down a serial killer. Yet, the way he utilises The Seven Deadly Sins, a popular motif in mediaeval art and literature, was done brilliantly. Elevating what could be a simple story to a great one. Another noteworthy detail I gathered from the film was the brilliant use of weather. And how it convey how bleak the situation was or to symbolise a breakthrough.

Deus ex machina (Spoilers ahead skip to conclusion)

I found one major plot hole in the story that lingered in the back of my mind. Feel free to skip to the conclusion if you do not want to be spoiled.

Detective Somerset and Mills discover the killer’s address and name using an illegal FBI resource. They confront the killer in front of his locked apartment. Leading to a major action sequence that concludes with the suspect escaping. Returning to the killer’s apartment, Mills is eager to break the door down for a search. However Somerset argues they need a warrant. He contends they lack probable cause due to the use of the illegal FBI resource and states, ‘If we leave a hole like this, we won’t be able to prosecute.’ Long story short, Mills breaks the door down, and they later pay a homeless woman to claim she saw suspicious activity and called Detective Somerset.

My question is, what was their plan? Hypothetically, suppose John Doe was home and answered the door to the detectives. If Detective Somerset and Mills talked with John Doe and realised he was the suspect, they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. They couldn’t arrest him; they had no probable cause. And I quote, ‘How did we get here? Huh? I can’t tell anyone about this,’ referring to the illegal FBI resource. In conclusion to my ramble, in my opinion, it was a lazy use of Deus ex machina.

Should You Watch This Film?

If you’re in the mood for a great thriller and have a little over 2 hours to spare, you should absolutely watch this film. With superb acting, great directing, and a brilliantly written story, ‘Seven’ will leave you dumbfounded. However, without having seen the rest of the 100 movies on the IMDb top 100 list, I can’t confidently say that this film deserves its high rating on the list.