Se7en (1995)
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The story
In a city plagued by violent crime and corruption, a disillusioned, nearly retired Detective Lieutenant William Somerset is paired with a young, idealistic detective, David Mills. The two investigators must navigate a grim landscape to track down a serial killer who is methodically selecting victims to represent the seven deadly sins. As the investigation deepens, the detectives uncover a chilling pattern of violence, forcing them to confront a killer who is deliberately escalating his actions to garner public attention for his twisted ideology.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a city overwhelmed by crime, Detective Lieutenant William Somerset is one week from retirement when he is paired with the idealistic David Mills. They begin investigating a series of gruesome murders: a man forced to eat until his stomach burst (gluttony), a man forced to cut off his own flesh (greed), and a drug-dealing pederast (sloth). Somerset suspects the killer is following the seven deadly sins. During the investigation, Mills's wife, Tracy, reveals she is pregnant and feels unsafe in the city. The detectives eventually track down the killer's lair, where they find evidence of his meticulous planning. The killer, John Doe, eventually surrenders but demands to be taken to a remote location to reveal the final victims (envy and wrath). At this location, Doe reveals he has killed Tracy and presents her severed head to Mills. In a fit of rage, Mills shoots and kills Doe, fulfilling the killer's plan to force him into an act of wrath.
- Original title
- Se7en
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 127
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Fincher
- Writers
- Andrew Kevin Walker · writer
- Cast and characters
- Brad Pitt · David Mills; Morgan Freeman · William Somerset; Gwyneth Paltrow · Tracy Mills; John C. McGinley · California; Kevin Spacey · John Doe
- Genres
- crime thriller
- Themes
- sin; urban decay; justice
- Tone and mood
- dark; gritty
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; police procedural; mystery
- Content notes
- mature content
- Reception
- The film was a sleeper hit that received generally positive reviews, particularly for its cast and ending. It has since gained even more positive critical reception and inspired other media.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Film Editing · 68th · nomination; British Academy Film Awards · Best Original Screenplay · nomination; MTV Movie Awards · Best Movie · win; MTV Movie Awards · Most Desirable Male (Pitt) · win; MTV Movie Awards · Best Villain (Spacey) · win
- Production trivia
- The twist ending is considered one of the most shocking in cinematic history.; The script was originally intended to have a more optimistic ending.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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