Se7en

Indeed, a perfect essay on the themes of "modern civilization and its morbid brutality". Fincher convinced so much through this film that he is one of the creators with a distinctive style and, above all, a talent to make a dramatic film with an idea. The parallel with Dante and classical European literature is largely simplistic, but the message of Seven to the viewer is all the more overwhelming. It is hard to resist characters that draw you into the action so much thanks to the excellent acting portrayal that the end of the film is also the viewer's revelation and a painful catharsis. Morgan Freeman's role in particular is one of the best ever created in the thriller genre. And I have a feeling that Seven has reached the limit of the genre. We live in a time that gives the concept of sin a whole new dimension. Seven is the perfect illustration of this... (02/28/2004)

Fincher is depressive again, in the way he only knows how. The murders are disgusting, especially the first one with the fat man is not very nice to see. The cops don't seem to know what a light switch is, so they keep shining their flashlights to make the most of the gloomy twilight. The perpetual rain doesn't help the mood, either, Scott knew that in Blade Runner. Depression alternates with depression and the interesting, gloomy screenplay plays into Fincher's hands, he is a master depression, we all know that. Add to this an irresistibly loathsome villain played by Spacey and a truly unusual ending for Hollywood and we get a clear five-star rating. (05/11/2003)

An unparalleled experience, a delight. Those who love dark crime thrillers about serial killers will adore Se7en, and so will do those who hate this kind of "entertainment" and laugh at monotonous scripts and shallow endings, because Se7en will shock them, suck them in, make them pant like a dog at the end, and inevitably teach them to love the genre... Impeccable direction that doesn't let up, teeming with creative ideas, and through the all-encompassing thick rain gives us a unique glimpse into the most chilling visual and narrative darkness ever seen on film. A perfect script, believable in its psychology and portrayal of the central characters' relationship, highly clever and subtle in its dialogue and non-violent reflection on the horrors of a society full of violence and murder, and finally shocking and surprising not only in its course, in the agonizing nature of the murders and the flawlessly sketched progress of the investigation, but above all in its twist, so unexpected and, thanks to Fincher's direction and shot after shot, so gripping that I wanted to stand up and scream loudly at the screen during the first two screenings. Perfect cinematography that always finds the right angle (I'm absolutely fascinated by the overhead shot of Pitt climbing a hanging ladder), an amazingly chilling soundtrack and a perfect bet on the eternally malfunctioning switches and the good old flashlights that accentuate all the blackness. A perfect film that cannot and will never be surpassed. 100% is not enough :) (05/02/2011)

The best film in its (sub)genre. David Fincher's camera antics and his ability to depict a depressive atmosphere are exactly what the theme of an elusive brutal killer needs, and it is difficult to find any holes in the screenplay or technical errors. The only thing that bothered me was the occasional fake rain, which was visibly artificial in many places (i.e. raining within a five-meter radius). The acting is flawless. The pair of detectives was portrayed exemplarily, the experience of age versus the fierceness of youth. The only action scene is very gripping, and the coldly depicted city, along with the dark camera filters, beautifully enhance the gloomy atmosphere full of brutal murders, junkies, and decaying corpses. The twist is undeniably brilliant, and even though Kevin Spacey only appears for a few minutes, it is precisely him who delivers the best performance. (11/08/2006)

Alongside The Silence of the Lambs, this is the most powerful psycho-thriller ever. Seven is a gem of the genre in which every filmmaking component is stretched to the absolute limit, along with the viewer’s nerves, emotions and psyche. Darkness that will take your breath away and keep you up at night. (05/06/2006)