"Se7en," masterfully directed by David Fincher, is a psychologically intense crime thriller that traverses through a grim world shaped by the seven deadly sins. With its relentlessly ominous atmosphere, meticulously staged crimes, and deeply disturbing narrative, the film redefines the boundaries of the crime genre and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.
The narrative is set against the backdrop of an unnamed, constantly rain-soaked city, further establishing the bleak and oppressive tone of the film. On the brink of retirement, veteran detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a man wearied by the relentless wave of city crime, is tasked with training his replacement, the fiery and idealistic David Mills (Brad Pitt). Despite their starkly contrasting world views, the duo soon finds themselves enmeshed in the investigation of a series of horrifyingly unique murders, each modeled after the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust.
Each murder scene they encounter is more unnerving than the last, with the killer demonstrating an uncanny commitment to the concept of the sins. From the grotesque murder of an obese man forced to eat until his stomach ruptures, representing gluttony, to a high-profile attorney forced to cut a pound of flesh from his own body for greed, each crime scene provides a stark reflection of the killer's twisted interpretation of morality and justice. This eerie journey through the sins not only pulls Somerset and Mills into a chilling game of cat-and-mouse but also forces them to confront their own perspectives on justice, morality, and the city they are bound to protect.
Their investigation eventually leads them to a man named John Doe (Kevin Spacey), whose very name suggests an ordinary, unassuming identity, in stark contrast to the atrocious crimes he commits. In a shocking twist, Doe surrenders, covered in the blood of an unidentified victim. He strikes a disturbing deal: he will lead the detectives to the locations of the final two bodies, or he will plead insanity at his trial. With the sense of dread escalating and only two sins, envy and wrath, remaining, the detectives have no choice but to partake in Doe's gruesome narrative.
The climax of the film is a masterstroke in suspense and horror. Doe leads Somerset and Mills to a remote desert location, where a delivery van drops off a package. Inside the package, Somerset discovers the severed head of Mills' pregnant wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). In a chilling confession, Doe reveals that he killed Tracy out of envy for Mills' normal life. This brutal revelation triggers Mills' wrath, and he shoots Doe, thereby tragically becoming a part of Doe's orchestrated narrative by embodying the final sin.
With its haunting conclusion, "Se7en" leaves the audience grappling with the harsh realities of the world and the pervasive presence of sin in society. As the film closes with Somerset's poignant quote from Ernest Hemingway: "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for," he adds, "I agree with the second part," reinforcing the film's grim view of humanity and the relentless struggle against the darker aspects of our nature.