Who is the Audience for This Movie?

Fans of procedural police thrillers.

What I Liked About This Movie

David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) is known for making movies that are very gritty and some would even say ugly looking. Let me explain that statement; by ugly looking I am referring to his filming style which is grimy, cold hearted and brooding. It is a style that when combined with the right story leads to a big payoff for movie viewers. Seven is one of those movies; it contains a story that combined with its visuals really makes for an engaging viewing.

Most noticeably the motif of constant rain can be thanked for the tone of the movie. Whenever there is an outdoor shot besides the movies finale it is always raining hard outside and when they enter into a building it is always a very drab dimly lit setting. Not until the finale is there any escape for the viewer from the movies grim setting.

The cornerstone of the film though is the relationship between the two detectives. Characterizations are fully realized enough to make the detectives interactions interesting enough to carry the weight during the slower parts of the movie. I have to also give a nod to the director for putting R Lee Emery (the sergeant from Full Metal Jacket) in the movie because he seems to usually only get roles in mediocre movies.

What Didn’t Work For Me

The movie has an incredible lead up that sort of fizzles in the end. While it does not harm the viewing experience is noticeable enough to be mentioned. Gwyneth Paltrow’s character also felt slightly underused considering she is an important to the story arc of the movie.

Should You Watch This Movie?

Seven is a great movie that anyone who likes gritty movies will enjoy.

My Rating (Out of 13)