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Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R. Lee Ermey ... see more see more... , Richard Roundtree , Julie Araskog , Lexie D. Bigham , Mark Boone Jr. , Gene Borkan , Reg E. Cathey , George Christy , David Correia , Peter Crombie , Brian Evers , Hawthorne James , Dominique Jennings , Michael Reid Mackay , Michael Massee , John C. McGinley , Richard Portnow , Richard Schiff , Tudor Sherrard , Charles Tamburro , Pamela Tyson , Harrison White , Shannon Wilcox , Allan Kolman , John Cassini , Andrew Kevin Walker , Leland Orser , Daniel Zacapa , Bob Collins , Bob Stephenson

Director David Fincher's dark, stylish thriller ranks as one of the decade's most influential box-office successes. Set in a hellish vision of a New York-like city, where it is always raining and the ... read more read more...air crackles with impending death, the film concerns Det. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a homicide specialist just one week from a well-deserved retirement. Every minute of his 32 years on the job is evident in Somerset's worn, exhausted face, and his soul aches with the pain that can only come from having seen and felt far too much. But Somerset's retirement must wait for one last case, for which he is teamed with young hotshot David Mills (Brad Pitt), the fiery detective set to replace him at the end of the week. Mills has talked his reluctant wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), into moving to the big city so that he can tackle important cases, but his first and Somerset's last are more than either man has bargained for. A diabolical serial killer is staging grisly murders, choosing victims representing the seven deadly sins. First, an obese man is forced to eat until his stomach ruptures to represent gluttony, then a wealthy defense lawyer is made to cut off a pound of his own flesh as penance for greed. Somerset initially refuses to take the case, realizing that there will be five more murders, ghastly sermons about lust, sloth, pride, wrath, and envy presented by a madman to a sinful world. Somerset is correct, and something within him cannot let the case go, forcing the weary detective to team with Mills and see the case to its almost unspeakably horrible conclusion. The moody photography is by Darius Khondji; the nauseatingly vivid special effects are by makeup artist Rob Bottin, best known for more fantasy-oriented work in films like The Howling (1981). ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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403,294 ratings

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53 critics

R, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: David Fincher

Release Date: September 22, 1995

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DVD Release Date: April 14, 1997

Stats: 31,651 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (31,651)

  • fb1463751009
    May 1, 2012
    fb1463751009
    What a thriller. After hearing about how this is arguably David Fincher's best work, I'm delighted to finally have seen "Se7en". It's a gut-wrenchingly, dark thriller with one of the most engaging yet mysterious narrative's in the crime-drama genre in recent memory. "Se7en" comes... read more with its own share fair of flaws and it's hardly Fincher's masterpiece, but it is still one hell of a ride.

    If you could describe "Se7en", dark, black, dreary, and claustrophobic would come up. Whether those attributes apply to how "Se7en" looks or what its about, it works. For example, this film's themes are very dark and delve into a realm unseen within the shadows, but at the same time, almost every scene is littered with black and gray colors with tints of blue. The storytelling is highly engaging, and though there is a lack of heart and character development, the premise of the narrative is too intriguing to regard the movie as a soulless picture. Yeah, I admit the film takes a while to hook the audience in, but once it grabs hold, it won't let go till the credits roll. However, one major thing that detracted me from the overall experience was how the film as a whole, was rendered to be entertainment. Everything had a very, "This is a Hollywood movie, not a real-life film" vibe. Plus, the sub-plot involving Gwyneth Paltrow was uninteresting and predictable.

    "Se7en" isn't quite the "greatest crime drama of all time" film it raved out to be, but it was an excellent film with a premise and execution of the narrative that is too mysteriously engaging for it not to be considered as a forgettable film.
  • samoriley
    February 16, 2012
    samoriley
    Fincher's Crime/Thriller is possibly his greatest work on film. With a superb cast of Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow and *SPOILER* as the serial killer. This film is based on the seven deadly sins and the horrific remains that the killer leaves behind, while the detec... read moretives try to hunt him down.

    In order to get a decent atmosphere for the film, don't look up or ask what happens,just find out by youself.

    However, what really makes this film stand out is the shocking and spine shivering ending.
  • c0up
    January 1, 2012
    c0up
    'Se7en'. A dark, clever, suspenseful tale, with a wonderfully creepy Kevin Spacey and his take on a nation of sinners
  • fb100000257973100
    December 11, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    The entire town is rainy and dark every moment of the day. You wake up in the morning, you open your window, you see the dark clouds floating, the sounds of people below, the racket of police cars as they are off trying to capture someone. You are a detective, and this is your la... read morest week on the job you have been slaving away at for about a good chunk of your life. You get to your final case only to have an annoying rookie detective follow you around and one of the most grotesque and disturbing death you have seen in a long while: an obese man tied up to a chair, head in a plate of rotten spaghetti, dead. His reason for his death: he committed the sin of Gluttony.

    And from there, we are introduced to the world of Seven (stylized as Se7en): David Fincher's second film and arguably his best. It was here that Fincher created his trademark of dark films, violent and disturbing yet graceful scenes, and shocking performances from the cast. It is hard to review this type of film because of all that it has going for it. Plus, the film-making of a high order along with the pure originality of the story.

    The first thing I want to touch base on is the acting of Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. Now, I have been something of a fan of both of their works, but here they have the most raw and revealing performances I have seen. Mainly dealing with Freeman due to him coming to terms with his life and the path he has chosen. With Pitt, I like how he embodies every young rookie out there. They are both fine actors that do a good job playing polar opposites, but what I would of liked is to see more of a backstory on Pitt's character. We know a good bit about Somerset (Freeman), but little on Mills (Pitt). I guess it is due to my love of characters, but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of backstory.

    This is a dark and bleak film with only a little line of light due to one character. This film is all about style, and for Fincher's second film, he delivers. However, the ending does leave one to be desired in the sense of how it is played out. Just, this film has literally everything going for it: intelligent characters, wonderful script, grotesque deaths, and magnificent direction. The ending this film needed should have been better. With that aside, this is still Fincher's masterpiece. For now...
  • blkbomb
    October 30, 2011
    blkbomb
    John Doe: It seems that envy is my sin. 

    "Let he who is without sin try to survive"

    Sev7n is a simply brilliant crime/detective thriller. This is the film that gave David Fincher credibility and really paved the way, for what would be a magnificent career. He has made some grea... read moret films since Seven, like Fight Club and most recently The Social Network, but none touch this gritty and highly intelligent thriller. 

    This film is more than just a great ending. The whole film is suspenseful and at times frightening. But the ending is clearly what this film is remembered most for, and for good reason. The ending of Seven is my favorite ending in any film I have seen. Number 2 is The Usual Suspects, weird that Kevin Spacey has a hand in both. The film starts off with two detectives meeting at a crime scene, one is Detective Somerset(Morgan Freeman), who is a veteran and is going to retire after the week is up; the other is Detective Mills, who is a new detective and is highly excited about his work. After the two find a obese man dead with the word Gluttony written at the crime scene, Somerset decides he wants no part of this case because he believes it to be a serial killer and he doesn't want to leave his job without finishing his last assignment. Then they find another with the word Greed written, and now Somerset knows for sure that the killer is basing his murders on The Seven Deadly Sins. Somerset decides to help Mills out on the case and it leads them on a hunt to try to find a sick twisted psycho.

    This film has been compared to The Silence of the Lambs, and it makes references to the film throughout. Actually I probably like this even more than Silence, which is saying a lot. The great thing that both of the films have in common is not giving too much screen time to the serial killers. In Silence, Hannibal had something like 19 minutes of screen time. In Seven, we don't see John Doe's face until the last fourth of the movie, but we feel his presence throughout. We see his body from far away as he evades the detectives. But never do we know exactly who he is. 

    This is one of those brilliant films I have ever seen. The last act alone is one of the most chilling and smart scenes I have ever seen. I knew what to expect as soon as Freeman's character go the package. I knew what was in it, yet I watched with my eyes glued open, breathing to the rhythm of the booming score. It was magnificently executed. 

    As brilliant as this movie is, there will always be those that can't like it. Just like Silence, it is highly disturbing and there are scenes that may be a bit too much for some. But if you're like me, these are the type of movies that are made for us. A great serial killer just can't be matched in the film world. There aren't a lot of movies that pull it off to perfection, but the ones that do like with Hannibal, like with The Joker, like with John Doe are in a whole different league of films. 

    David Mills: I've been trying to figure something in my head, and maybe you can help me out, yeah? When a person is insane, as you clearly are, do you know that you're insane? Maybe you're just sitting around, reading "Guns and Ammo", masturbating in your own feces, do you just stop and go, "Wow! It is amazing how fucking crazy I really am!"? Yeah. Do you guys do that? 
  • paulkoh110
    October 27, 2011
    paulkoh110
    AWWWWWWW YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH

    But actually, this movie is the best! Nine inch nails intro, the box at the end, and MORGAN FREEMAN!
  • TomBowler
    September 28, 2011
    TomBowler
    There are few films which can lay claim to scenes which shook the world, or at least the people watching. Alien had the Chestburster, Silence of the Lambs had that first meeting with Hannibal Lecter, Se7en has the box. A simple cardboard box that gives way to an ending which lite... read morerally rivals the best cinema has to offer.

    But I'm getting ahead of myself. Se7en follows detectives Mills and Somerset as they try to track down a serial killer whose pattern is that of the seven deadly sins.

    David Fincher has been lauded as some sort of a technical genius recently, especially with his incredible work in the Social Network, but at the time of making Se7en, his reputation was somewhat different. After a long line of music videos, Fincher finally made the move in the movie world with the disappointing Alien 3. Basically, it was time to prove himself. All it takes is the opening credits sequence to do so. Set to a Nine Inch Nails remix, the credits themselves set the mood and tone for the rest of the film brilliantly. From then on, Fincher creates a Blade Runner-esque noir feel to a crumbling city which, lacking a physical evildoer, becomes the villain against Mills and Somerset's dual protagonists. Fincher, whilst living in his previous movies' shadow, isn't afraid to make some bold choices in terms of shooting, working with some disorientating handheld shots to great effect and beautifully obscuring his villain until the reveal. He may not have been the virtuoso that he is now but it's an incredible starting point. Despite the urge to occasionally close-in on a gory set-piece, Fincher restrains from gratuity in many cases, preferring to let our minds do the work that the production team doesn't. The fact that we don't actually see any of the killings is tribute to this fact, but what Fincher shows us in the aftermath is more shocking than any amount of violence alone could do. Fincher also makes sure to focus on the relationships of the piece. The ending being the way it is, it wouldn't work if the emotional connection to the viewer hadn't been set up in the first place. Fincher does this with incredible precision without sacrificing his films grimy tone. It truly is a masterful piece of directing which only began to show his potential for films to come.

    Andrew Kevin Walker's script is at once sympathetic and diabolical, especially in the way that it knowingly sets the viewer up to be crushed towards the end. The book which the film is based on may be the starting point for this, but Walker's incredible depth of emotion and knack for realistic dialogue means that this is achieved with that much more impact. The dialogue between Mills and Somerset is beautifully written, achieving a realistic relationship between the two without rushing it along. The natural evolution of a working relationship to start with, then to a true friendship is a brilliant achievement by Walker. It would be easy to shoehorn these two characters into something easily recognisable and clichéd for the sake of time, but it's much more rewarding to see it play out the way it does. The two character Walker brings to life are intricately layered and filled with nuance, even while still on the page.

    But the two characters would stay there if it wasn't for Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman's incredible portrayal of the two. Pitt plays Mills, the new guy in town, who is enthusiastic to the point of impatience and who doesn't quite know how to act around people. Despite his initial abrasiveness, Pitt imbues him with such a goofy charm that, even when he's busy tripping over his tongue, he is incredibly likeable. The stark contrast between his demeanour at the office and his attitude at home is played with clever subtlety by Pitt creating a more rounded character than that of your typical buddy-cop movie. His interaction with Gwyneth Paltrow is fantastic as well, being careful to play down the obvious love that he holds for her which makes their relationship seem all the more real. Paltrow's performance here is similarly fantastic, a symbol of hope for most of the characters in the film. Her conversation with Somerset is as emotional as it should be without being a drama and her connection with Mills is that of a young, but clearly in love, couple. Morgan Freeman's performance is amazing as always, but here his godlike unshakable attitude pays off better than other times. His subtle shift towards uncertainty and finally terror is an incredible thing to watch as we see his vainly trying to grasp at the last vestiges of control that he has over his circumstances. It's truly an amazing performance but, then again, it's Morgan Freeman. It's difficult to imagine him turning in anything else. Kevin Spacey, though he's only in the film for a short amount of time, makes an indelible impression on the film. His ranting, just short of manic, performance shows off exactly what Spacey has become famous for; his chameleon-like ability to become any role. Though my favourite performance of his has to be Lester Burnham, this would definitely be a close second next to Verbal Kint. His cold, detached stare which occasionally gives way to furious, operatic speeches is an amazing thing to watch. Richard Schiff, a vastly underrated performer, snatches a few minutes of screen time and turns in a brilliantly murky performance. His smug attitude and impenetrable demeanour make him hypnotic to watch. It's sad he doesn't get to be onscreen for longer. John C. Reilly also makes an appearance in the film, miles away from his jovial Dr. Cox and more towards his character in Platoon without all the cowardice. Bit-parts such as the surviving victim of lust also make for incredible performances but it's these central ones which stick in the mind the longest.

    Se7en is a testament and origin point for David Fincher's prowess as a filmmaker, a film noir worthy to be mentioned with the likes of Blade Runner and a horror to stand the test of time. Not for the faint hearted.

    Defining Scene:
    Despite the sheer shock factor of the Sloth scene, the defining scene has to be that earth-shaking ending.

    Quotes:
    It's more comfortable for you to label me as insane.
    It's very comfortable.

    Fuckin' Dante... poetry-writing faggot! Piece of shit, motherfucker!

    This guy's methodical, exacting, and worst of all, patient.
    He's a nut-bag! Just because the fucker's got a library card doesn't make him Yoda!

    C'mon, he's insane. Look. Right now he's probably dancing around in his grandma's panties, yeah, rubbing himself in peanut butter.

    This isn't going to have a happy ending.

    Maybe you're just sitting around, reading "Guns and Ammo", masturbating in your own feces, do you just stop and go, "Wow! It is amazing how fucking crazy I really am!"?

    Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny? An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him; a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal. After him, I picked the lawyer and I know you both must have been secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets! A woman... so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer, a drug dealing pederast, actually! And let's not forget the disease-spreading whore! Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. But that's the point. 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. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever.
  • fb701560354
    September 25, 2011
    fb701560354
    David Fincher has another fine film on his list here with Seven (Se7en). It's a brutal, grim story with a message and features genuine characters which are brilliantly acted by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. The fantastic, gripping finale shocks, and haunts me still, but it's a ... read morefitting ending for a great movie.
  • DreamExtractor
    September 1, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Se7en is not only one of the greatest thrillers ever, the ending is one of the most intense and twisted scenes in the history of film. The story is about two detectives (Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt) who are searching for a killer that uses the seven deadly sins to kill his victims... read more. The plot of the movie seems like a simple thriller and regular episode of NCIS, but that the complete opposite, its one of the most chilling, creepiest, perfect, and complex tales that has ever been done in film history. The cast is incredible, and although Morgan Freeman is my second favorite actor, its Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey who are the show stealers here. The ending (which I will not reveal) is one of the greatest film scenes in the history of film, and Se7en is one of the greatest thrillers that has ever been created.
  • moonrivers
    August 30, 2011
    moonrivers
    A killer as prophet? Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt do the buddy cop motiv good service as they dredge a fetid city for clues in this edge of your seat thriller that (like Blade Runner and Taxi Driver) laments over the society we have made.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
April 28, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The filmmakers stick to their vision with such dedication and persistence that something indelible comes across--something ethically and artistically superior to The Silence of the Lambs that refuses ... Full Review

Variety Staff
April 28, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

An intensely claustrophobic, gut-wrenching thriller. Full Review

David Ansen
March 31, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

So chic, studied and murky it resembles a cross between a Nike commercial and a bad Polish art film. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

The crime scenes are rendered in sickening detail, and the whole film has a murky, madly pretentious tone. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Seven wants to abrade, not ingratiate.

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Noticeable skill has gone into the making of Seven, but it's hard to take much pleasure in that. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Focus, Freeman and film craft make Seven difficult to dismiss as a stylish exercise, but employing this grisly subject matter for an exercise of any kind is a queasy way to go.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Good as it is, it misses greatness by not quite finding the right way to end. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Hannibal Lecter, say hello to John Doe. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Unfortunately, screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker's finale, in addition to its grossness, feels like an act of treachery against the viewer. Full Review

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Facts

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    • William Somerset: Ernest Hemming way said, 'The world is good, and worth saving.' I believe the second part.
    • William Somerset: It is impressive to see a man feeding off his emotions.
    • David Mills: What's in the box?!
    • David Mills: Wait, I thought all you did was kill innocent people.
    • John Doe: Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny? An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him; a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal. After him, I picked the lawyer and I know you both must have been secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets!
    • David Mills: Murderers?
    • John Doe: A woman...
    • David Mills: Murderers, John, like yourself?
    • John Doe: A woman... so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer, a drug dealing pederast, actually! And let's not forget the disease-spreading whore! Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. But that's the point. 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. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever.
    • David Mills: So many freaks out there doin' their little evil deeds they don't wanna do... The voices made me do it. My dog made me do it. Jodie Foster told me to do it.
    • Police Captain: [picks up phone and slams it down] This isn't even my desk!
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Seven (Se7en) Trivia

  • What film have both Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt in?  Answer »
  • This is a quote from which film -"When a person is insane, as you clearly are, do you know that you're insane? Maybe you're just sitting around, reading Guns -n- Ammo" ?  Answer »
  • What David Fincher film was this the last line of dialog for  Answer »
  • Name the film from this audio clip  Answer »
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