In the early ’90s, a struggling writer lived in New York City. His experience, without detail, was not so great, but as a result, he wrote a screenplay that would eventually be one of the most sadistic and terrifying Psychological Thrillers of its era. The writers name is Andrew Kevin Walker, and that movie is Seven.
- Still from Seven
Released on September 22, 1995, the story follows Detective Mills (Brad Pitt: Ocean’s Eleven 2001, World War Z 2013) and Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman: The Dark Knight Rises 2012, Now You See Me 2013) who investigate a series of murders that revolve around the seven deadly sins – Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Wrath, and Envy. Seven days prior to Somerset’s retirement, he gets roped into this bizarre case with rookie Mills, one crime scene more bizarre than the last. It eventually leads them to a man with an erased identity, simply known as John Doe (Kevin Spacey: Superman Returns 2006, House of Cards TV series), an obsessed, patient man that has had these murders planned for quite some time. With twists and turns throughout the film, it is difficult to see who really has the upper hand.
Voted eighth scariest films of all time by Entertainment Weekly, Seven set the bar for Psychological Thrillers. From the very beginning, it has a dirty, gritty feel to it. It was no where near any Slasher or cat and mouse flick anyone has ever seen. Because he was so unknown in Hollywood, Writer Andrew Kevin Walker had enormous difficulty getting a studio to buy the rights to his script. Luckily, this gem made it to the big screen, regardless of many stars turning down the roles as it was too “dark and evil.” With the talent of Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, and many others, together they created a disturbing work of art. A majority of the victims gave their all to fulfill their roles, and with impressive results. Bob Mack, as the Gluttony victim, had to lie still with his face planted in a bowl of food, enduring seven crates worth of cockroaches invading every space, including his nose and ears, forcing him to wear plugs.
- Still from Seven
Gene Borkan, as Greed victim Eli Gould, was hog tied and only in his underwear, posing in his death scene covered in over two gallons of fake blood, which was so thick and sticky, he got stuck to the floor. His “corpse” was also only viewed in photographs in the film. The Sloth victim, Victor, was played by Michael Reid Mackay (Batman & Robin 1997, X-Men 2 2003), who was a mere 90 lbs at the time. He endured fourteen hours of makeup, and also surprised the SWAT team for being “alive,” a genuine reaction on film, as they were told the scene at hand was another murder. Leland Orser, the man who was forced to kill a prostitute for the Lust sin, prepared for his scene in the interrogation room by breathing in and out rapidly, lacking his body of oxygen so he could hyperventilate. He also stayed awake for a few days to achieve the disoriented look.
Freeman and Pitt were the perfect duo for these roles, as they were complete opposites with a common interest. Together, they offered a little comic relief, but maintained the mood of the film, which was executed effortlessly. Both actors had such strong feelings with this film, never doubting its success, and had to argue with producers on the twisted ending, insisting it should stay as is, which it did. Of course the main focus of the film was John Doe, played by Kevin Spacey, who absorbed this role and really made it his own. To keep the identity of the killer a secret, Spacey insisted on keeping his name out of the opening credits. To compensate, his name appears twice in the closing. What is interesting is, to most Horror fans, John Doe is considered one of the most horrifying killers in cinematic history, and yet is never seen killing anyone on screen.
- Still from Seven
Along with the acting, the script and sets were authentic to the story of Seven. Filmed in Los Angeles, the city appeared dismal, violent, and depressing, keeping the mood very raw and on edge. Director David Fincher had an amazing editing team, keeping the colors more dull and brooding, without getting too dark and muddy. Pitt and Freeman had an aura about them that came off so naturally, it is like they never read a script at all. The character of John Doe was nothing less of terrifying, executed by Spacey brilliantly. One of the most chilling scenes was his conversation with Mills from the back of the cop car, as he justifies his own actions. Gwenith Paltrow, who portrayed Mills’ wife Tracy, had a small role, but left such a big impact by the end of the movie.
Fincher found this story to be a “meditation on evil” as opposed to a “police procedural,” which is definitely why it was so successful. There was nothing typical or predictable about this movie, and no crime Drama or Thriller has even come close to compare. What is more admirable is the team involved that stood behind it, knowing it would be successful. A big hiccup in the project was New Line Productions attempt to change the epic ending, worrying of any negative feedback. Fincher, Pitt, and Freeman refused to participate if the original script was altered, and luckily, they got their way.
Since its release, it made approximately thirty-three million opening weekend, eventually grossing over three-hundred million worldwide. It won Best Movie in the 1996 MTV Movie Awards, and continues to be a treasure to Horror fans of today. With that said, it goes without question Seven deserves every piece of praise thrown its way, and will no doubt be remembered for another twenty years.
- New Line Cinema
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