It’s one of the best detective films of all time and has been called “ a psychological trip through hell ” as well as “ monumentally scary”. Seven, directed by David Fincher, has been listed by Empire at number 37 on a list of the 100 Best Films of All Time, making it the highest-ranking detective film (if you discount Heat, which is more of a heist film).
Empire wrote that: “Not since The Exorcist has there been a mainstream Hollywood studio movie as extraordinarily dark, bleak, intense, and as monumentally scary as this.” Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey, Seven has a rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.6 on IMBD. It also ranks as the highest serial killer film of all time on the Empire list.
The film is set in an unnamed American city where a serial killer is on the loose, killing his victims in inventive, horrifying ways all intertwined with the seven deadly sins.
The killer’s identity is a mystery to everyone, both the detectives and the film’s viewers and he is simply known as “John Doe” in the film, which hypes up the tension. And much of this is because Kevin Spacey, the actor who plays him, refused to be credited at the opening of the film to preserve the twist at the end and his name only appears in the final credits.
He also refused to be part of any press before the film opened and is not on any promotional appearances — in fact, his character doesn’t even appear until 90 minutes into this terrifying thriller.
The killings are linked to the seven deadly sins, so a wealthy lawyer symbolises greed and is made to cut off a pound of his own flesh, an obese man is made to eat until his stomach explodes to symbolise gluttony — the list goes on.
As the sinister killer taunts veteran cop William Somerset, played by Freeman, and his new partner David Mills (Pitt) they are always one step behind.
The ending of the film is described by Empire as “the most downbeat ending imaginable. Ever. You come away reeling, emotionally and mentally, shaken and most definitely stirred.”
This gritty film is available to watch on Netflix in the UK, on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription, and on Google Play, YouTube and Apple TV from £3.49.