Se7en (R)

Directed by David Fincher, the 1995 star packed film “Se7en” is not a traditional horror movie but rather a gripping thriller that falls in the mold of “Jacob’s Ladder” and works well as a great change of pace to be included in your October collection. With a cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey, Fincher turns a sadistic plot into a gripping thriller, with the subtleties of neo-noir style and a chilling backdrop that contains the story like a sack of trick or treat candy.

“Seven” (proportionally stylized as “Se7en”) is a straight up police story, beginning with a veteran detective William Somerset (Freeman) who is seven days from retirement. Somerset is partnered with a hotshot and hardheaded young detective named David Mills (Pitt) who has just relocated to the area with his wife Tracy (Paltrow.) Though Somerset is retiring from the force in a week, the two are thrust into a sinister investigation; a serial killer (Spacey) that is murdering his victims based on the seven deadly sins from the bible – gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy.

In a vague neo-noir style, “Se7en” takes place in an unidentified grey and decrepit city filled with constant rain and surrounded by urban decay. This adds to the uneasiness the viewer will have as they watch Somerset and Mills slowly discover the crimes and unravel the caper. Not naming the city is reminiscent of the creepy undertones from “Eraserhead” as the characters constantly refer to it as “this place” or “this city.”

The acting in ‘Se7en” is okay – which is surprising featuring the powerhouse cast, though this may be the stylistic intentions of Fincher. Freeman and Pitts characters are both traditional in their delivery and backgrounds – with Freeman being the long tenured detective who always knows the crooks next step though no one ever wants to listen to him, and Pitt as the hard headed youngster who would open fire with a six-shooter in each hand and ask questions later if afforded the opportunity.

“Se7en” was, ironically, the seventh highest grossing film in 1995. Critics and the large cult following the film has amassed over the years tend to hold it in a much higher light than I do. I didn’t think it was great, just okay. As mentioned before, “Se7en” is not a horror movie, but a thriller with a chilling atmosphere that will work well on a stormy night in mid-Halloween season.

by – Matt Christopher