SE7EN. Review on Seven Movie

Seven became an enormous box-office hit because it finally did something most audiences had never seen for a long time: it dazzled us with spectacular visuals, and enthralled us with a frightening story. Not only did it gain popularity with audiences, but it sparked controversy over many of the graphic murders portrayed. If you don't know by now, Seven centers its plot around a killer who bides by the Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy and Wrath.

Mills(Brad Pitt) and Somerset(Morgan Freeman) are the detectives assigned to the case. Mills is a young and impatient detective with the idea that he can make a difference in the world, while Somerset is seven days from retirement and just wants to guide him before getting out. But when the series of murders start involving the seven deadly sins, Somerset decides to stay on the case until it is finished.

It soon becomes apparent that the killer might be trying to give a sermon of some kind, and as the two detectives get closer to the killer, they find their own lives getting mixed into the mess. As they get closer to solving the case and catching the killer, the ''PREACHER'S'' message begins to appear directed more towards Mills and Somerset. Mills' family life starts deteriorating as he gets involved into this case.

The first hour and a half, we never know who the killer is, and then he reveals himself in the final thirty minutes. This is extremely well done, because it doesn't rely on the action ending that so many films use. The ending is not the one which is expected or lets say wanted, and makes us realise what exactly the killer wanted to convey.

Backdrops :

It rains most of the time, and the sets are dark and gloomy. The victim's places are usually lit with dim lights, and shadows are cast all around the place. The Director is capable of shifting your attention from one thing to another by his camera angles and lighting effects.

Some quotes from the movie :

''We see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial. We tolerate it morning, noon, and night. Well, not anymore. I'm setting the example. And what I've done is going to be puzzled over, and studied, and followed... forever.''

''You're only alive because I didn't kill you.''

''There are seven deadly sins: Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Lust, Pride, Sloth, and Envy.''

''You're no Messiah, you're a movie of the week; a t-shirt... at best.''

I have never seen a film like Seven before in my life. I don't think I will see one like it again. Seven is not just a film...''It is a work of art.''