Seven (1995)

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A serial killer in an unnamed city begins a spree inspired by the seven deadly sins. Two detectives, expertly played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, are assigned to the case and do everything in their power to find the villainous John Doe and bring him to justice. Seven presents a cold, harsh, visceral, bleak outlook on the world, something David Fincher typically excels at. Doe is one of my all-time favorite movie villains. This is thanks in no small part to Kevin Spacey’s performance. He’s barely in the movie, but his presence is felt throughout, and it feels earned and meaningful when he does show up. The violence in the movie is muted, which adds a layer of unease. More than anything, it serves as a backdrop. We are really left to imagine how brutal everything was. Nowhere is this more evident than in the famous “what’s in the box” scene near the end of the movie. On repeat viewings, that moment grows more and more stomach-churning, despite never showing what exactly is in the box. Freeman and Pitt have excellent chemistry with one another. I want to be honest about the ending, though. I loved it. Without giving much away, it’s very bittersweet. It feels like it belongs within the world that this movie sets up. This is one of those movies where everything from the acting to the writing to the directing to the editing comes together to make a fantastic and tense movie. Overall, Seven is one of the best neo-noir thrillers of all time, and a personal favorite of mine.

10 / 10