When a film is labelled as ‘classic’ or a ‘must watch’…I have to watch. Se7en was a film I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy, not because I already knew who the villain was, but rather the opening credits. I am not a ‘gore’ person, gory films are not my cup of tea, and the opening credits, as well as the grimey feel of the world we are transported into. 

While the grey and green hue of the cinematography made me believe I would be sickened by the subject matter, this movie does deserve its ‘must watch’ status.

The film follows two detective, the straight laced and quiet Morgan Freeman, and the new and brash Brad Pitt a strange combination, but one that works. They quickly realise they must delve into the mind of a sadistic and literature-fuelled killer.

Each gruesome death (I say gruesome as more the way the victims are murdered, not what we see) follows one of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy, and Wrath. Each death is meticulously planned and thought out. Some murders to mention are greed and lust, those are some real stand out ones that I remember. 

In the meantime we meet Brad’s wife, Gwenyth Paltrow, who is tame and the classic down to earth housewife (I know, VERY different to the real actress’s personality!). She immediately gets on with Morgan Freeman, who is much more similar to her.

Whilst trying to find their killer, Brad Pitt frequently loses his cool and almost gets them into trouble, while Morgan tries to get them out of it. At the same time, Gwenyth reveals she is pregnant to Morgan, not her own husband.

With around thirty minutes left, Kevin Spacey walks into the police office revealing he is the killer. At this point I assumed the movie was over and was disappointed. What happens next is why I believe this movie deserves the term ‘classic’ to be attached to it. Spacey says he can tell them where his other two victims are (at this point only five of the sins have been committed), but is insistent on Freeman and Pitt to take him.

He leads them to an abandoned field in the middle of nowhere. Once there, a delivery van drives close to the tense scene and leaves a package. Freeman goes over to take a look and is visibly upset. Call me slow, but at this point I didn’t understand what was happening. Spacey talks to Pitt and makes him wonder what’s in the box (WHATS IN THE BOX?). With each second Pitt becomes more exasapted at what the parcel contains. 

Spacey reveals that the thing in the box is to do with Pitt’s wife, Paltrow. Only now did it become clear, from my racing heart, that a big plot twist had happened. In pure anger, Pitt shoots Spacey dead, therefore completing the sins, Envy for Spacey, wanting the life that Pitt had, and Wrath for Pitt, for the anger in killing Spacey. When this part started, I assumed that the two next deaths would be Freeman and Pitt. 

Whilst there’s nothing I enjoyed more than knowing Paltrow’s head was in the box, I do have to say that I was confused. I said to my partner that if Pitt is wrath, then he should have been killed and skewing Spacey’s plan? However the question didn’t eliminate the fact that I thought the film was fantastic, and couldn’t stop recommending it to all my work colleagues and best friend.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and plot twists that are actually good and actually help the plot, not hinder it.