Se7en (1995)

"Se7en", also known as just "Seven", is David Fincher's second full length movie that he directed after creating a name for himself as a music video director. He almost passed up the chance to direct "Se7en" after having such a horrible experience working on "Alien 3". "Se7en" is about a serial killer who kills people whose lives best represent one of the seven deadly sins. Unlike most serial killers, he doesn't kill because of some ill seeded sexual drive or the need to control others, but instead he kills to prove that the world is full of sin and that it influences everyone, like it or not. The killer is very precise and patient, taking over a year to implement his plan so everything lined up just right. The only aspect that I find difficult to understand is how he was going to complete the seventh and final sin before Brad Pitt's character, Detective Mills, moved to the unnamed City and became an unknowing player in the killer's game.

The movie is one of the best filmed features that I've ever seen, taking full advantage of the dark, wet City and turning it into a character itself. It's big and ugly and real. Coupled with the intense soundtrack, pairing certain points in the film with a particular song or classical piece, made the film complete.


Detective Somerset is about to retire and move away from the City, a run down, crime riddled metrolpolis. During his last few days, he is partnered with the brash young Detective Mills who just transferred to the City. They are soon dispatched to investigate the crime scene of an obese man that was found in his kitchen, killed by a blunt blow to the stomach after being forced fed for hours while a gun was pressed firmly against his head. This turns out to be just the first in a series of cruel and violent killings that claim people from all walks of life within the city, including a high profile lawyer and a famous local model. Somerset is the the first to notice that the killings are related to the different seven deadly sins from the bible, so with that knowledge they begin their search for the killer before he can complete all seven murders.