31 Days Of Horror: Day #10 - SEVEN

"This isn't going to have a happy ending." - Detective William Somerset

 

Seven, (1995), Directed by David Fincher

Grade: A+ 

It's a masterpiece.  David Fincher's film about the inner workings of a homicide department and the serial killer it must bring down recalls everything remembered from gritty cop crime thrillers of the 70's and gives homages to the great direction of past masters like Friedkin, Penn, and Lumet.

While not considered full-blown horror, this incredible film makes its way onto this list for a simple reason: it's virtuoso filmmaking.  I don't care if you get your kicks from watching Law And Order or even CSI: Whatever-The-Hell-City-It Is-This-Week, this is ultimate crime thriller storytelling all the way.

For those who have been hiding out with the Kardashians for the last year and therefore have had all the oxygen sucked from your brains due to being around pure stupidity, the story of Seven concerns a serial killer (aptly named simply "John Doe") who murders his victims via the way of the seven deadly sins, and the two homicide detectives who are assigned to the case.

It's not a happy subject.  It's not a smiley Romper Room story.  It's bleak and it's gritty, it's bloody and it's desolate, but more than anything it's fascinating to watch.  And while Seven is most certainly not a movie for all tastes, even for those who end up hating it, you have to admit...it's a clever premise, elegantly told. 

As the story unfolds, you seem to think that the horror can't get any worse, and then it does.  And at the same time, as much as you may want to look away, you can't, and that "edge-of-your-seat" suspense takes you over, and you're glaring at the screen in bewilderment.

Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt take on their roles as the two detectives masterfully, and after it's all over, you can't think of any other actors playing these characters.  Sure, we've got the dogged, retiring cop and the young, smart-assed rookie as his partner that we've seen countless times before, but Freeman and Pitt make the concept work and seem fresh and new.  The direction of David Fincher makes you completely forget the problems he had with his previous film Alien 3 (although this blogger liked it), and instead shows immediately his skills a major Hollywood talent.  The dark streets and rainy locales all add to the film's feel of menace, and the subjective camerawork gives hints that all will not end well...but for who?

The strange thing is, I wasn't interested in seeing this movie all.  When I saw the trailer, I immediately thought, "Oh...here we go again. Same old, same old."  But then, my brother came to me and said, "No, man....you gotta see it. In the THEATER. It's THAT good."

For the average viewer, it's a tough film to watch.  Many will find the violence unsettling, and the set pieces absolutely horrifying, but that's the point of the film.  It's rated "R" for a reason.  And just when you think you've seen it all, Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker reach into their bag of tricks and throw another surprise at you. 

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman attend a screening of the latest Woody Allen film.

Now, I'm sure for you readers many of you may say, "OK, we get it! You like the movie! Shut up!"  This is why I don't think I could ever be a film critic professionally.  Nobody wants to listen to you.  People must decide for themselves whether or not they ultimately want to watch a movie or not, and could care less about blogging cynics like yours truly telling them what's good and what isn't,  but I'm here to tell you, if you haven't ever seen it,  see Seven.  And for those viewers who worry that the final climax may present itself as ambiguous, don't worry.  The movie has a beginning, a middle, and an end.  In other words, there will be no Seven 2.  (Or is that Seventy-Two?)