Line #3 Trivia/Se7en


1	* {{Blooper}}: When the detectives take the "upside down" picture off the wall, we can clearly see that its wire is on the top third of its frame, so it was hanging in the intended orientation.
2	* CastTheRunnerUp: Creator/RLeeErmey originally auditioned for John Doe.
3	* DivorcedInstallment: A sequel called ''[=Ei8ht=]'' was discussed, with a plot detail involving Somerset getting PsychicPowers. It was eventually released as a separate movie under the title ''Film/{{Solace}}'' in 2015.
4	* DyeingForYourArt: [[spoiler: Creator/KevinSpacey]] shaved his head to play John Doe, on the condition that Creator/DavidFincher do so as well.
5	* EnforcedMethodActing: During the Sloth victim discovery scene, [[spoiler: there's [[JumpScare a big startle]] when the apparent corpse on the bed coughs and starts moving, revealing himself to still be alive albeit totally mentally gone.]] None of the SWAT team were made aware of the moment before filming, thinking they were dealing with [[spoiler: a prop corpse, not an actor]]. The first take, with their organic shocked reactions, was the one used in the film.
6	* ExecutiveMeddling: Somerset's Creator/ErnestHemingway quote at the end of the film was a sop to producers complaining about the film's extremely dark ending. Creator/DavidFincher's original plan was to have the film cut or fade to black immediately after [[spoiler:Mills shoots Doe in the head]].
7	* FollowTheLeader: Compare it with later ThemeSerialKiller flicks like ''Film/{{Resurrection\|1999}}''[[note]]A ''blatant'' rip-off starring Creator/ChristopherLambert and Creator/LelandOrser (who also played the man forced by John Doe at gunpoint to rape the Lust victim to death)[[/note]], ''Film/TakingLives'', ''Film/{{Anamorph}}'', ''Film/{{Horsemen}}'', ''WΔZ'', ''Film/SuspectZero'' or ''Franchise/{{Saw}}''. Of course, that's not to say ''[=Se7en=]'' didn't borrow some elements from ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' (and, for that matter, ''Film/TheAbominableDrPhibes''...).
8	* KeepCirculatingTheTapes:
9	** The comic series has never seen a reprint since its run ended in October 2007. Secondhand copies tend to fetch a pretty decent price tag, but the hardcover compilation of every issue usually goes for a very pretty penny.
10	** The official novelization by Anthony Bruno has gone out of print. Unlike the comics, though, it‘s nowhere near as expensive and is pretty easy to find secondhand. It’s also available to read on the Internet Archive’s [[https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1856037W/Seven Open Library]].
11	* MeaningfulReleaseDate: This film was released in September 1995. "Septem" is Latin for "seven", and September was originally the seventh month of the year on the Roman calendar.
12	* MethodActing:
13	** The actor who played the Sloth victim (Michael Reid [=MacKay=]) was instructed by David Fincher (in order to create the impression that [[spoiler: he is dead]]) not to breathe during his scene.
14	** The man who was forced by John Doe at gunpoint to rape the Lust victim to death is disturbed to the point of hyperventilating. The actor who played him, Creator/LelandOrser, sat himself in a corner, breathing very quickly in order to induce hyperventilation in himself to keep his performance authentic. He also stayed up for two straight nights before filming in order to seem believably exhausted and stressed out.
15	* OnSetInjury: While filming the chase scene, Creator/BradPitt slipped on the hood of a car and went through the windscreen, cutting his hand in the process. The injury was written into Mills's character, though, to Pitt's disappointment, the scene showing the injury was cut.
16	* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/RLeeErmey, the DrillSergeantNasty ''par excellence'', plays a mellow and soft-spoken police captain.
17	* RealLifeRelative: Creator/MorganFreeman's son Alfonso has a small cameo as the fingerprint technician.
18	* ReferencedBy: [[ReferencedBy/Se7en Has its own page]].
19	* SerendipityWritesThePlot: Originally, New Line Cinema [[ExecutiveMeddling had no intention of using]] the infamous DownerEnding of Andrew Kevin Walker's first draft, and Walker reluctantly went along with it. However, when contacting David Fincher, they actually sent him the wrong version of the script -- i.e., Walker's original vision, which was faithfully adapted into the film itself. Fincher read it, loved it, and joined the production, and then refused to change the ending when the executives objected.
20	* SparedByTheCut: One of the rewritten endings involved John Doe kidnapping Mills. In this ending, Somerset discovers that Doe was raised by an abusive priest in a church orphanage and finally traces him to a decrepit church decorated with artwork depicting the Seven Deadly Sins, where Doe is intent on making Somerset murder him out of vengeance. As Somerset arrives, Doe has cut a cross in Mills's chest, has suspended him above an altar, and shoots him. Mills finally dies in Somerset's arms as the church is set on fire. Doe and Somerset subsequently engage in a shootout, with Somerset wounding Doe and letting him die in the flames. The script ends with Mills's funeral.
21	* StillbornFranchise: [[ArcNumber Seven]] years after the movie was released, there were plans for a sequel called (wait for it) ''[=Ei8ht=]'', telling the story of a psychic cop (Somerset) who developed a connection with the serial killer he was hunting. David Fincher commented that he would rather have cigarettes put out in his eye than ruin ''[=Se7en=]'' with such a ridiculous sequel concept. The sequel was eventually scrapped when Creator/MorganFreeman also refused to return, but the idea evolved into the 2015 movie ''Film/{{Solace}}'' (starring Creator/AnthonyHopkins as the psychic).
22	* ThrowItIn:
23	** Creator/BradPitt cut his hand on a windshield while filming the scene in which his character chases John Doe. Although [[{{Irony}} the script required a (probably minor) injury]], the cast and such were written into the film.
24	** Mills' mispronounciation of the Creator/MarquisDeSade's name was an ad-lib by Creator/BradPitt. The first time he did it, Creator/MorganFreeman laughed out loud and said "Even Mills isn't that stupid!" Clearly, David Fincher disagreed.
25	** [[spoiler: Mills angrily pressing his gun into John Doe's head shortly after his "What's in the box?" line]] was reportedly improvised by Brad Pitt in the heat of the moment, slightly corroborated by [[spoiler: the small smirk Creator/KevinSpacey can be seen giving afterwards]].
26	** The police captain picking up the phone and answering "This is not even my desk!" was an ad-lib by Creator/RLeeErmey getting fed up with the phone's constant ringing.
27	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
28	** Andrew Kevin Walker wrote the screenplay with Creator/WilliamHurt as Somerset in mind. Creator/AlPacino was offered the role, but he was busy with ''Film/CityHall''. Creator/GeneHackman turned it down because of the night shoots involved. Creator/RobertDuvall and Creator/HarrisonFord were also considered.
29	** Creator/DenzelWashington, Creator/KevinCostner, Creator/SylvesterStallone and Creator/NicolasCage were all considered to play David Mills. Washington refused the role, finding the content of the screenplay too disturbing, and specifically expressed regret at not accepting the role after attending a screening (that was the main reason why he later starred in the ''[=Se7en=]''-influenced supernatural thriller ''Film/{{Fallen}}'').
30	** Creator/NedBeatty and [[Music/{{REM}} Michael Stipe]] were considered for John Doe. Creator/ValKilmer was also offered the role, and he recommended [[spoiler: Creator/KevinSpacey]].
31	** Creator/ChristinaApplegate was offered the role of Tracy Mills.
32	** There were several potential alternate endings for the film.
33	*** In one ending, it would have been revealed that [[spoiler: John Doe did not murder Mills's wife, only substituting a lookalike. As Mills would've still killed him, he would then have no justification for killing an unarmed man, which means he would spend the rest of his life in jail. Afterwards, Somerset decides not to retire and instead gives his country house to Mills's wife and her unborn baby]].
34	*** Another ending featured [[BloodstainedGlassWindows a dramatic shootout in a burning, dilapidated church]] [[spoiler: in which Mills dies]].
35	*** Yet ''another'' had [[spoiler: ''Somerset'' killing John Doe in order to [[SparingThemTheDirtyWork save Mills from becoming "Wrath"]]. In the finished film, the {{foreshadowing}} that Somerset will have to actually shoot his gun (or use his knife) is kept, but nothing comes out of it with the ending changed.]]
36	** However, ExecutiveMeddling did have its way, as [[spoiler: the resolution of Somerset reciting the Hemingway quote]] was studio-mandated. The ending David Fincher originally wanted (and prefers more) had [[spoiler: the film stopping ''immediately'' after Mills first shoots Doe and holding on black for a good 10 seconds]].
37	** When the movie was first pitched to execs, they had the screenwriter revise the film so it would be more marketable (happier ending, not as bleak, etc.). But when they sent the script to Creator/DavidFincher, they accidentally sent him the original script instead of the revised one. Before they could correct their mistake, Fincher refused to make the film if the revised script was used.
38	* WrittenInInfirmity: After Creator/BradPitt severed a tendon in his hand, scenes were added to show why his character was wearing a cast.

Context Trivia / Se7en