An Unforgettable Serial Killer
I am not sure how to approach this article because Se7en was
released in 1995. So a movie review is free to have spoilers as many would have
already seen it but just in case there are those that haven’t seen the movie,
like the new generation, I’ll keep it spoiler free.
I knew the movie existed but only considered watching it
when Empire Magazine hailed it as one of their Masterpiece numbers. Then I
listened to a Nine Inch Nails song and suddenly felt like watching the movie.
The group, coincidentally, was responsible for the music in the opening
sequence.
Se7en features a serial killer who is modeling deaths based
on the 7 deadly sins (greed, gluttony, etc.). A rookie (Brad Pitt) and a
veteran (Morgan Freeman, of course) team up to solve the case. The setting is a city where rain and overcast
clouds are as common as your morning cereal, setting a background that
complements the grim nature of the deaths. The movie also features Gwyneth
Paltrow as Pitt’s wife and you begin to adore her as soon as she turns on screen,
painting a portrayal of the wife we all would wish for but can’t have. Every
frame on screen has a purpose in this movie, even the first unrelated depiction
of Pitt’s character’s family life, all in the hopes of making a poignant
finale.
However, what truly deserves praise is the serial killer.
Most movies reduce these psychopaths to over churned clichés. The reason for
their behavior is credited to some formulaic childhood trauma such as an
abusive parent or some vicious experience they had to get through. A guy who rapes
and kills women could have been abused by his mother in his early years so he
vents his anger on others like her. Se7en opts to break free of these
conventions, which is saying something even now despite being released in 1995.
This serial killer is not just crazy. We don’t even need to give a damn about
his childhood. This serial killer is philosophical. I opt not to reveal the
actor playing the role as that, too, is part of the thrill in this movie,
finding out who the killer is.
A chase scene in the middle of the movie (on foot)
unexpectedly manages to create a sense of impending tragedy with the loud gun
shots and gritty nature of the pursuit (old school style). It is a tame
sequence in modern movie terms but somehow it creates moments where your heart
can stop. People travel down flows breaking glasses or skating down the fire
escape. They cross the chaotic roads by jumping over cars, using them as
landing spots. The inclement weather only emphasizes the threatening nature of
the chase.
Most movie finales in this category rise to provide a
suitable climax but fail to as they create generic motives and finales. Se7en’s
serial killer promises a horrific end to his journey and he doesn’t disappoint.
This finale has me still locked in its grasp 24 hours later. As the killer
himself says, you can’t comprehend it nor deny it. The macabre details of the
crimes will keep you hooked in the early half of the movie. The middle will
provide an abundance of action to satiate your appetite. And that finale will
simply have you in shock for hours even after the credits stopped playing.
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| I got on a diet after I saw what happened to the glutton. |
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