STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: FILM - “Seven”
- Jeffery Tung
- Jan 8, 2018
- 2 min read
It’s become a cliché in fiction nowadays when a detective’s last case is expected to be the worst one in their career.
Directed by David Fincher, and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, Seven is about veteran and soon-to-be retired police detective William Somerset who is partnered with young detective David Mills, who has just moved to the city with his wife, Tracy.
After discovering a victim who ate himself to death, and a defense attorney killed in his own office with the word “Greed” written in blood on the carpet, Somerset concludes that there will be five other upcoming murders, all based on the seven deadly sins.
The hunt is on to find the killer, whom the police have dubbed “John Doe.”
As detective stories go, the film has a pretty standard, aside from the killer using the seven sins as a gimmick for his victims. So why is the film so well-known? Two words: David… Fincher.
This is Fincher’s second feature film, and it’s the one where he was given more creative control that a typical director would have. It showcases his skill in framing shots and keeping every scene tension filled, even the emotional scenes where the characters are just talking about their lives and confessing some secrets.
Then, of course, there’s the iconic finale of the film, which, obviously, I won’t reveal here. The tension and suspense is perfectly built, hinging on the decision of our characters.
That all being said, its standard detective story means what it means: standard. The veteran detective, the hot-headed cop, the current case being the “last case,” etc. The only thing that doesn’t happen is Somerset dying just because he’s about to enter retirement.
I discovered Seven after seeing other films of Fincher, with the only knowledge of this film being the iconic quote, “What’s in the box!” with absolutely no context in regards to it. After seeing the film in its entirety, I saw why Fincher was one of the top filmmakers working today.
I won’t go so far as to call Seven a generic cop drama. Like I said, what gives it its unique look and flavor is because of David Fincher, and I like the mystery/riddle aspect of the case that Andrew Kevin Walker had created. If the last 15 minutes is what matters, then Seven is definitely a film the audience will forever remember.
Grab a notebook, and check it out.
