Se7en

🔥 6th Watch | Top 100 | David Fincher Ranked *"You're no messiah. You're a movie of the week. You're a fucking t-shirt, at best." John Doe may only be a movie of the week, but Se7en is surely not. Without the detrimental studio interference that plagued David Fincher’s first feature film, his second film, Se7en, stands among some of the greatest films of all time. Howard Shore is most reputable for his epic Lord of the Rings* soundtrack, and deservingly so. Middle Earth is abundant with rich cultures like Rohan, Gondor, and the Shire; opposing forces like light vs dark, big vs small, good vs evil; and central themes like nature’s reclamation, heroism, and fellowship. Shore captures all of these nuances within his award-winning soundtrack, and the sheer complexity of it makes its legacy untouchable. However, while Se7en’s score might not hold the complexity and impressiveness of The Lord of the Ring’s score, Se7en’s soundtrack is still perfection in its own right and critically under-appreciated. Shore’s work in Se7en is dark and tense. It penetrates the skin with its menacing brass and piercing electronic textures. Though minimalist in nature, it’s not quite atonal, and it’s the primary heartbeat for many of Se7en’s most important scenes. The scene where David Mills chases the killer, for example, is utter perfection due to the tension Shore’s music creates. In cinema, contrast is what creates meaning. This means that knowing where to incorporate silence is just as crucial as knowing where to incorporate music. David Fincher incorporates both of these elements skillfully to guide our attentions. Howard’s shore soundtrack plays when David Fincher wants us to be occupied by the investigation, and it’s one of the main reasons why the killer has such a powerful presence throughout the movie despite such a limited runtime. When Fincher wants us to focus on the characters, he sets the music aside, or in one case plays Air on the G Strings by Bach instead. Therefore, by the end of the film, David Fincher not only presents a fulfilling investigation but also a compelling character study between our two contrasting protagonists, one of whom is an emotive rookie while the other is a composed veteran. There is contrast visually too. David Fincher really draws your attention towards the rain in this movie. In the first exterior scene, the rain nearly drowns out the dialogue. In later scenes, the rain remains: David Mills clutches his chest as he chills in the rain with his two coffee cups, Mills shields himself from the rain as he becomes delighted after receiving his CliffsNotes, and the rain continues to pour down when he chases John Doe. The rain is a powerful motif in this film, and the associated blue color palette arouses feelings of coldness, creating an atmosphere fill of grime that is perfectly suitable for the killer's abominable plans. However, taking place in a sunny field outside the city, the climax—visually characterized by its golden color palette—defies all expectations, culminating in a finale that has obsessed audiences for decades, just like John Doe said would happen. There are very few perfect movies out there. Movies where the screenplay, performances, production design, cinematography, soundtrack, and overall direction not only succeed, but complement each other. They're a rare gift. Some perfect movies include The Godfather and The Lord of the Rings. Se7en is another one of those movies; it's two hours of pure cinematic brilliance in the beautiful IMAX format. ⬅️ Previous Review: Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii