Seven (DVD 2001)

In Se7en, Daivd Fincher (director of Fight Club and Panic Room) conjures up a delightfully bleak helping of moody, noir-esque thrills around Andrew Kevin Walker's ingenious and engaging script. Se7en is set in a quintessential American city (we are never told which one), where the arm of the law is never quite long enough to prevent the city's criminal underbelly from indulging in all sorts of sinful activity.
Against this backdrop we find the film's two protagonists, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman who both deliver fine performances. Pitt plays the young, idealistic and motivated Detective Mills, who is the perfect foil to the pragmatic and world weary Detective Lt William Somerset, played by Freeman.

Mills and Somerset are assigned to hunt down the sociopathic serial killer John Doe, whose murders are grisly sermons designed to warn a corrupt society of the consequences of the seven deadly sins (gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy and wrath). Each of his murders becomes an ironic example of the dangers of each sin; his victims are punished for the deadly sin they embody by being forced to indulge in it until it kills them.

Unfortunately for Mills and Somerset, John Doe is as intelligent as he is disturbed, and they can do little but follow in his wake to pick up the pieces until he unexpectedly turns himself in...

Although some people might find the plot a bit too twisty, and the story a bit too morbid, all in all this is a fast paced and witty film, with superb acting from a great cast (also including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey). This film will leave you guessing until the brain-bendingly clever finale.

As you've probably guessed by now, this isn't the kind of film to watch if you're in need of cheering up. In fact I would go so far as to say that this is one of the most depressing films I have seen for a long time. This film will take you to a dark and frightening place. Crucially though, it's not only dark but interesting and (in a way) enjoyable, highly recommended.