“Se7en” (1995) / Z-View

Se7en (1995)

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker

Stars: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Cassini, Peter Crombie, Reg E. Cathey, R. Lee Ermey, George Christy, Hawthorne James, Richard Roundtree, John C. McGinley, Mark Boone Junior, Leland Orser, Richard Schiff, Charles S. Dutton and Andrew Kevin Walker.

Tagline: Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die.

The Plot…

Just one week from retirement, veteran detective William Somerset (Freeman) is teamed with young rookie detective,  David Mills (Pitt).  Their styles and personalities are at odds from the start.  Somerset is even-keeled, patient and methodical.  Mills is short-tempered, eager and prone to rush in.

Somerset and Mills are assigned a murder investigation where the killer mutilated the victim before slowly murdering him.  When another body turns up, Somerset and Mills realize that they’re dealing with a serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins to determine his victims and method of murder.  The killer is intelligent, but insane… and he knows that Somerset and Mills are on the case.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

What could have been a very generic and exploitive serial killer movie is anything but.  Andrew Kevin Walker created a story that is compelling and clever.  The old cop just a week from retirement teamed with a young hotshot is so played out.. but not in the hands of Walker.  The situation is what it is, and adds to the personalities of Somerset and Mills. The finale is one of the best ever.

David Fincher is an amazing director and Se7en is a masterpiece.  The film stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, but the supporting actors/actresses are just as amazing.  It’s cool seeing familiar faces before they were “known” popping up throughout the film.  Everything from the opening credits to the final shot are perfection.

Se7en (1995) rates 5 of 5 stars.