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''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is a 1995 American crime/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is a 1995 American crime/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' ''Film/{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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* PoundOfFleshTwist: Plays out unfortunately for the Greed victim.
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**And the worst of all, the Lust kill. Holy fucking shit! That doesn't look too nice...
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** [[spoiler:Except that he wasn't decayed, and he wasn't a corpse; [[{{AndIMustScream}} he was still alive when they found him.]] Which is worse, and yeah, the cop still vomits.]]
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** [[spoiler:Except that he wasn't decayed, and he wasn't a corpse; [[{{AndIMustScream}} he was still alive when they found him.]] Which is worse, [[FateWorseThanDeath worse]], and yeah, the cop still vomits.]]
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** Except that he wasn't decayed, and he wasn't a corpse; [[{{AndIMustScream}} he was still alive when they found him.]] Which is worse, and yeah, the cop still vomits.
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** Except [[spoiler:Except that he wasn't decayed, and he wasn't a corpse; [[{{AndIMustScream}} he was still alive when they found him.]] Which is worse, and yeah, the cop still vomits.]]
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* BodyHorror: Gluttony, pride, sloth... and John Doe's removal of fingerprints.
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* BodyHorror: Gluttony, pride, sloth... and John Doe's [[{{Fingore}} removal of fingerprints.fingerprints]].
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**Except that he wasn't decayed, and he wasn't a corpse; [[{{AndIMustScream}} he was still alive when they found him.]] Which is worse, and yeah, the cop still vomits.
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--> [[spoiler: '''John Doe:''' What I've done is going to be puzzled over...and studied...and followed.]]
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--> [[spoiler: '''John Doe:''' What I've done is going to be puzzled over... and studied...studied... and followed.followed... forever.]]
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* DisposableSexWorker: The Lust victim.
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* VomitingCop: One of the SWAT team members is about to throw up when they find Victor's (the Sloth victim) decayed corpse.
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* AndIMustScream: Sloth. [[spoiler: He is kept in his flat, alive, for one year, immobilized, occasionally given antibiotics so as not to die from his bedsores. By the time he's saved, his mind no longer functions. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel HOLY SHIT.]]]]
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* AndIMustScream: Sloth. [[spoiler: He is kept in his flat, alive, for one year, immobilized, occasionally given antibiotics so as not to die from his bedsores. By the time he's saved, his mind no longer functions. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel HOLY SHIT.]]]]]]
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* HighOctaneNightMareFuel: All five murders to differing extents, especially Sloth.
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--> [[spoiler: '''John Doe:''' What I've done is going to be puzzled over...and studied...and followed.]]
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* ImpliedAnswer: [[spoiler: How Mills finds out his wife's head is in the box]]
-->'''Mills:''' [[spoiler: Tell me she's alriiiiight!]]
-->'''Somerset:''' [[spoiler: ...if you murder a suspect, David-]]
-->'''Mills:''' [[spoiler: [[BigNo Noooo!]]]]
-->'''Mills:''' [[spoiler: Tell me she's alriiiiight!]]
-->'''Somerset:''' [[spoiler: ...if you murder a suspect, David-]]
-->'''Mills:''' [[spoiler: [[BigNo Noooo!]]]]
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* {{Autocannibalism}}: The Sloth victim bit off and ate his own tongue.
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* {{Autocannibalism}}: The Sloth victim bit off and ate [[TongueTrauma his own tongue.tongue]].
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** [[AllThereInTheManual According to an early draft of script]] his name is Police Captain Lucas.
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** [[AllThereInTheManual [[AllThereInTheScript According to an early draft of script]] his name is Police Captain Lucas.
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* ClickHello: [[spoiler: John Doe does this to Mills after the chase.]]
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* MethodActing: The actor who played the Sloth victim weighed 96 pounds at his audition, and the director joked that he could have the part if he dropped another ten. Much to the director's surprise - and horror - he dropped six.
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* MethodActing: The actor who played the Sloth victim weighed 96 pounds at his audition, and the director joked that he could have the part if he dropped another ten. Much to the director's surprise - and horror - --and horror-- he dropped six.
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* RealLifeRelative: Morgan Freeman's son Alonso has a small cameo as the fingerprint technician.
** Andrew Kevin Walker wrote the screenplay with William Hurt as Somerset in mind. DenzelWashington, KevinCostner, SylvesterStallone and NicolasCage were all considered to play David Mills. RLeeErmey originally auditioned for the part of John Doe and R.E.M.'s frontman Michael Stipe was also considered for the role.
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** Another alternate ending features [[BloodstainedGlassWindows a dramatic shootout in a burning, dilapidated church]] [[spoiler: in which Mills dies]], and yet ''another'' had [[spoiler: ''Somerset'' killing John Doe in order to 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.]]
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* HighOctaneNightMareFuel: All five murders to differing extents, especially Sloth.
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* NoNameGiven: The Captain.
** [[AllThereInTheManual According to an early draft of script]] his name is Police Captain Lucas.
** [[AllThereInTheManual According to an early draft of script]] his name is Police Captain Lucas.
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* SpoilerOpening: Averted. The actor playing John Doe is missing from the opening credits instead receiving the first credit at the ending.
** However, we do see John Doe's removal of fingerprints.
** However, we do see John Doe's removal of fingerprints.
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''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an American crime/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an a 1995 American crime/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an American crime/drama/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
to:
''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an American crime/drama/horror/thriller crime/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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* DespairEventHorizon
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* DespairEventHorizon DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler: Mills at the end of the film.]]
* DetectiveDrama
* DetectiveDrama
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* FatalFlaw: Mills has a HairTriggerTemper, which eventually leads to his undoing.
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* FatalFlaw: Mills has a HairTriggerTemper, which eventually leads to his undoing.John Doe exploits.
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* PoliceProcedural: Contains elements of the genre.
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* XanatosSpeedChess: John Doe didn't anticipate Somerset and Mills discovering where he lived, which necessitated him stepping up his schedule.
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->''There are ''seven'' deadly sins, Captain. Gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy. Seven. You can expect five more of these.''
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->''There are ''seven'' deadly sins, Captain. Gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy. Seven.Seven... You can expect five more of these.''
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* CreativeClosingCredits: The grungy credits scroll up instead of down.
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* CreativeClosingCredits: The grungy credits scroll up down instead of down.up.
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* FatalFlaw: Mills has a HairTriggerTemper, which eventually leads to his undoing.
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* MethodActing: The actor who played the Sloth victim weighed 96 pounds at his audition, and the director joked that he could have the part if he dropped another ten. Much to the director's surprise - and horror - he dropped six.
** 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 sat himself in a corner, breathing very quickly in order to induce hyperveltilation in himself to keep his performance authentic.
** 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 sat himself in a corner, breathing very quickly in order to induce hyperveltilation in himself to keep his performance authentic.
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[[quoteright:270:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/articulos_1066_IMAGEN2_4204.jpg]]
->''There are ''seven'' deadly sins, Captain. Gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy. Seven. You can expect five more of these.''
-->--'''William Somerset'''
''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an American crime/drama/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
----
!!It provides examples of the following:
* AllThereIsToKnowAboutTheCryingGame: [[spoiler:It's Det. Mills' wife's head in the box.]]
** And [[spoiler: Kevin Spacey is the villain.]]
* AmoralAttorney: The Greed victim was a prominent lawyer named [[GreedyJew Eli Gould]].
* AndIMustScream: Sloth. [[spoiler: He is kept in his flat, alive, for one year, immobilized, occasionally given antibiotics so as not to die from his bedsores. By the time he's saved, his mind no longer functions. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel HOLY SHIT.]]]]
* AssholeVictim: According to the villain. His victims are chosen based on what he consider to be their (unforgivably) negative traits. Though their "sins" range from being fat to being a drug-dealing pederast. The movie does not contain any indication that the victims for gluttony, lust, and pride were bad people in any way, unless you take the villain's "FromACertainPointOfView" for gospel -- or share his hatred of lawyers, overweight people, sex-workers, and vain women.
* {{Autocannibalism}}: The Sloth victim bit off and ate his own tongue.
** In the Zenescope GraphicNovel, John Doe cuts off his "[[SemperFi Semper Fidelis]]" tattoo with a knife and then eats it.
* AxCrazy: Why, John Doe.
* [[spoiler:TheBadGuyWins]]
* BaldOfEvil: John Doe.
* BalloonBelly: Gluttony eats [[WaferThinMint until he can't take it anymore]].
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: A good part of John Doe's self justification for the Gluttony murder.
** And yet he goes the opposite route with the Pride murder. His own sin, the one that he would admit to, is Envy after all.
* BigNo: [[spoiler: Mills after he discovers that his wife is dead]].
* BlackAndWhiteInsanity: John Doe, arguably. The film, however, does go out of its way to point out that John Doe ''isn't'' completely insane - which is in some ways even more frightening than if he was.
* BodyHorror: Gluttony, pride, sloth... and John Doe's removal of fingerprints.
* TheChessmaster: John Doe.
* CityWithNoName: It appears to be a composite of New York and Los Angeles [[CityNoir noir cities]].
* ClusterFBomb: Detective Mills, M-I-L-L-S, ''fuck off!''
-->'''Mills:''' Fucking Dante! Goddamn poetry-writing faggot, piece of shit! Fucker!
* CowboyCop: David Mills. Subverted as Mills is obviously trying to be one but instead comes across as naive and impulsive.
* CrapsackWorld: Detective Somerset and the villain seem to share this perspective on the world. At the end, Somerset states that the world is [[AWorldHalfFull still worth fighting for, even if it is a shithole]].
* CreativeClosingCredits: The grungy credits scroll up instead of down.
* CreepyMonotone: John Doe, most of the time.
* DeathByDisfigurement: Invoked with the Pride victim, who killed herself. [[spoiler:John Doe picked a very beautiful and vain woman and disfigured her, presumably to the point that plastic surgery would have been unable to restore her face. He then glued a phone into one hand (so she could call 911), and a bottle of sleeping pills into the other (so she could commit suicide). According to the villain, the woman was so full of pride that she swallowed the pills rather than go through the rest of her life with scars.]]
--->'''Dr. O'Neill:''' He cut off her nose.
--->'''Somerset:''' To spite her face.
* DeathByGluttony: Invoked with the Gluttony victim.
* DeathBySex: Invoked with the Lust victim. [[spoiler:A man was forced at gunpoint to wear a large razor-studded strap-on (strap-over?) with which he killed her by having sex with her.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: David Mills, so very much.
* DespairEventHorizon
* DressedAllInRubber: Latex bodysuits were implemented by the killer for Lust.
* DoingItForTheArt: All of the books in John Doe's apartment? They're ''all real.'' One of the special effects companies hired for the film spent two months ''hand-writing every single one of them''. Mostly by [[CrazyAwesome one guy]] who showed exceptional talent at writing journals like a crazy insane sociopath. [[NightmareFuel He even included an authentic suicide note]].
* EmpathicEnvironment: It's [[GrayRainOfDepression rain]][[PartlyCloudyWithAChanceOfDeath ing]] during most of the movie. The rain was meant to symbolize the third level of Hell, as described in [[DivineComedy Dante's Inferno]]. The idea is backed up by the numerous references to the work throughout the movie.
* EurekaMoment: When Mills mentions that "just because the fucker's got a library card doesn't make him [[StarWars Yoda]]", Somerset realizes that the [[FBIAgent FBI]] is able to track the killer based on his reading habits.
* ExecutiveMeddling: David Fincher didn't want to do the voice-over of Somerset that appears at the end of the film (see KnightInSourArmor; below), because he thought having a voice-over when there hadn't been one at any other point in the movie would be sloppy. The studio insisted, however, that the film end on [[YourMileageMayVary a slightly more upbeat note]] then what was scripted.
** And even that's debatable -- because it's the sigh of a tired old man who's seen too many horrors, but still keeps going out of what seems more like inertia than any actual belief that he can make anything better.
* FanDisservice: The Gluttony victim. He is naked on the autopsy table.
* FauxDeath: [[spoiler: Sloth.]]
* FilmNoir
* FingerInTheMail: [[spoiler: A package is received from the captured SerialKiller containing the head of his latest victim — Mills' wife.]]
* FollowTheLeader: Compare it with later ThemeSerialKiller flicks like ''Resurrection'', ''TakingLives'', ''Anamorph'', ''Horsemen'', ''WΔZ'', ''SuspectZero'' or ''{{Saw}}''. Of course that's not to say ''Se7en'' didn't borrow some elements from ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs''.
* ForceFeeding: Gluttony.
* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler: Averted in the film; John Doe's actions are not attributed to a past since he never gives one. Played straight in the (non-canonical) comic books.]]
* GambitRoulette: Some of the murders are performed very impressively in terms of where and how they are discovered.
* {{Giallo}}: It isn't one, but the film's visuals seem to be heavily influenced by the genre.
* {{Gorn}}: Although it's mostly limited to {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s. Most of the horrors are unfilmable and left to our imagination.
** Which makes it even more terrifying. As an example, several people told Fincher that they couldn't believe he showed [[spoiler: Mills' wife's head in the box]]. Fincher responded by pointing out that at no point in the movie is this actually shown; the image is all in the audience's mind.
* GrayRainOfDepression: See EmpathicEnvironment above.
* GreenEyedMonster: John Doe says he [[spoiler: killed Mills's wife out of envy]]. Of course, given his agenda, he may have exaggerated [[spoiler: his envy]] just for that purpose.
* HannibalLecture: "It's more comfortable for you to label me insane."
* HeyItsThatGuy: Toby from the ''WestWing'', Dr Cox from ''{{Scrubs}}'', John Shaft from ''{{SHAFT}}'', Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from ''FullMetalJacket'', Funboy from ''TheCrow'' (in his first acting role after [[FatalMethodActing his accidental involvement]] in the death of Brandon Lee) and [[spoiler: some Hollywood star you may recognize.]] Oh, and [[BruceAlmighty God]].
* IRejectYourReality: John Doe, leading to his insane "sinners must be punished" mentality.
* IronicNickname: "Smiley" Somerset.
* ISurrenderSuckers: [[spoiler: A variation occurs at the climax. John Doe turns himself in, but only to ensure that his master plan of completing his "work" goes off without a hitch.]]
* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: When reading off names and titles of books, Mills pronounces the MarquisDeSade's name as "Marquis de Shar-day", like [[{{Sade}} the singer]].
* ItGotWorse: And how! The entire movie has this continuously, but the last ten minutes deserve special mention. It got a lot worse fast.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:What the serial killer is aiming for, at least in theory]].
* KirkSummation: {{Subverted}}. Det. Mills' rebuttal was spot on, but the villain ignored him and continued the [[HannibalLecture lecture]].
--> '''Doe:''' And after him I took the [[AmoralAttorney lawyer]], and both of you must have secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by ''lying'', with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets—
--> '''Mills:''' "Murderers."\\
'''Doe:''' A woman—\\
'''Mills:''' "Murderers", John. Like yourse—\\
'''Doe:''' ''A WOMAN! So ugly on the inside''...
* KnightInSourArmor: William Somerset's last line in the movie: "ErnestHemingway once wrote, '[[Literature/ForWhomTheBellTolls The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for]].' I agree with the second part."
* KnightTemplar: John Doe. Somerset doesn't doubt he believed in all his 'preaching'.
* LetMeAtHim
* Letters2Numbers: "V" is replaced by the [[SarcasmMode similar looking]] "7".
* MeaningfulName: "John Doe" is the police term for an unidentified body/suspect/victim/etc.
* MisanthropeSupreme: John Doe.
* MissionFromGod:
-->'''Doe:''' Don't ask me to pity those people. I don't mourn them any more than I do the thousands that died at Sodom and Gomorrah.\\
'''Somerset:''' Is that to say, John, that what you were doing was God's good work?\\
[''{{Beat}}'']\\
'''Doe:''' The Lord works InMysteriousWays.
* MotiveRant: John Doe while in the car.
* MrSmith: Johnathan Doe isn't his real name, but he takes it by choice.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning
* NecessarilyEvil: John Doe thinks his actions are this.
* [[NotWhatItLooksLike Not What It Sounds Like]]: Somerset says this to Mills when a list of books includes ''OfHumanBondage''.
* {{Novelization}}: Written by Anthony Bruno and based on the original script.
* OhGodWithTheTroping: This very page.
* OldCopYoungCop: This trope was once called SomersetAndMills.
* OminousMundanity: John Doe.
* OneSceneWonder: Michael Massee and Leland Orser.
** How about John Doe? He only appears in three scenes where he is chased by Mills, taken in a car by Somerset and Mills, and finally, [[spoiler: taken to a desert where he is finally killed.]]
* OutWithABang: Lust.
* PlayingAgainstType: RLeeErmey, the DrillSergeantNasty ''par excellence'', plays a mellow and soft-spoken police captain.
* PoeticSerialKiller: John Doe chooses victims he views as guilty of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, then kills them in a manner that he thinks [[KarmicDeath punishes the particular sin]] of which each is guilty.
* {{Prequel}}: Some surprisingly good comics by Zenescope Entertainment. They center on John and the victims.
* RedHerring: [[spoiler: Somerset's knife-throwing practice. It's seen several times in the movie, but never given practical application.]]
** Though it should be noted that in the actual movie script, [[spoiler: Somerset did use his knife-throwing skill to try to stop Mills from shooting John Doe.]]
** Also possibly [[spoiler:the dog carcass.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Somerset and Mills. The Blue is a fatherly mentor trying to harden the Red's heart to the harsh realities of life, and the young and emotional Red [[spoiler: loses EVERYTHING to BigBad and CompleteMonster John Doe.]]
* RoomFullOfCrazy: John Doe's apartment.
* SaltAndPepper: Somerset (black) and Mills (white).
* SerialKiller: John Doe is an extremely disturbing example.
* SevenDeadlySins
* ShameIfSomethingHappened: John Doe talking about [[spoiler:Mills' wife]].
* ShoutOut: There is a store called [[TheSilenceOfTheLambs Wild Bill's Leather Shop]].
** William Somerset is named after W. Somerset Maugham, [[AuthorAppeal as he was screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker's favourite author]]. Somerset Maugham's ''OfHumanBondage'' is mentioned in the movie.
* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer[=/=]NotNamedInOpeningCredits: John Doe is played by [[spoiler:Kevin Spacey]]. ''He'' was the one who insisted that he not be associated with the film in any way until it was released. The producers actually wanted him to have top billing. The man is very, very dedicated to his craft.
** As a result of this, his name is the very first thing seen during the closing credits; the ''second'' line is, "Cast (in order of appearance)."
** He also said it worked to his advantage, since that meant he didn't have to appear on talk shows and stuff to promote the movie.
* SirSwearsALot: David Mills.
* SomebodyElsesProblem:
-->'''Somerset:''' Well, in any major city, [[ApatheticCitizens minding your own business]] is a science. First thing they teach women in rape prevention is never cry for help. Always yell "fire." Nobody answers to "help." You holler "fire," they come running.
* StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred
* StuffedIntoTheFridge: [[spoiler: Mills' wife Tracy.]]
* SuicideByCop: [[spoiler:John Doe's death.]]
* SuspectIsHatless: How John Doe is described by his neighbours.
* TearOffYourFace: The Pride victim has her face mutilated and nose cut off by John Doe.
* ThanatosGambit: [[spoiler:John Doe dies for his cause.]]
* ThemeSerialKiller
* TheScourgeOfGod: John Doe.
* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: John Doe.
* ThrowItIn: Brad Pitt broke his arm filming the scene he chases John Doe. Although [[{{Irony}} the script required a (probably minor) injury]], the cast and such were written into the film.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** An alternate ending revealed that [[spoiler:John Doe did not murder Mills' wife, only substituting a lookalike. Mills then has no justification for killing an unarmed man, and will spend the rest of his life in jail. Somerset decides not to retire, and instead gives his country house to Mills' wife and her unborn baby]].
** Another alternate ending features [[BloodstainedGlassWindows a dramatic shootout in a burning, dilapidated church]] [[spoiler: in which Mills dies]], and yet ''another'' had [[spoiler: ''Somerset'' killing John Doe in order to 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.]]
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: The name of the city is never specified. Tracy at one point mentions that she and David used to live "upstate", presumably referring to upstate New York, and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker said that the screenplay was heavily inspired by his time spent in New York, but that's about it.
** In the novelization, Mills and his wife lived in a town named ''Springfield'' (probably Springfield, New York) before they moved to the city.
* WickedCultured: John Doe. He uses the works of WilliamShakespeare, Milton, Chaucer, Dante, the Marquis de Sade and St. Thomas Aquinas, among others, as inspirations for his crimes.
* WretchedHive: The massive [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield unnamed]] city where it takes place is a rainswept hell of apathy and suffering. Writer Andrew Kevin Walker describes the script as his [[TakeThat "love letter to New York."]]
* WrittenInInfirmity: After Brad Pitt severed a tendon in his hand, scenes were added to show why his character was wearing a cast.
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->''There are ''seven'' deadly sins, Captain. Gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy. Seven. You can expect five more of these.''
-->--'''William Somerset'''
''Se7en'' (or ''Seven'') is an American crime/drama/horror/thriller film, directed by DavidFincher of ''FightClub'' fame and staring MorganFreeman and BradPitt as homicide detectives Somerset and Mills. Somerset is about to retire and be replaced by Mills in the department, but the two get caught up in a string of murders, each inspired by the SevenDeadlySins and all caused by one intelligent and elusive SerialKiller. A distinctive dark atmosphere and a skillful balance of {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s ends up creating a far more disturbing product than the {{Gorn}} films that try and emulate it. Often ranked with ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' and ''{{Psycho}}'' as the pinnacle of serial killer fiction.
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!!It provides examples of the following:
* AllThereIsToKnowAboutTheCryingGame: [[spoiler:It's Det. Mills' wife's head in the box.]]
** And [[spoiler: Kevin Spacey is the villain.]]
* AmoralAttorney: The Greed victim was a prominent lawyer named [[GreedyJew Eli Gould]].
* AndIMustScream: Sloth. [[spoiler: He is kept in his flat, alive, for one year, immobilized, occasionally given antibiotics so as not to die from his bedsores. By the time he's saved, his mind no longer functions. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel HOLY SHIT.]]]]
* AssholeVictim: According to the villain. His victims are chosen based on what he consider to be their (unforgivably) negative traits. Though their "sins" range from being fat to being a drug-dealing pederast. The movie does not contain any indication that the victims for gluttony, lust, and pride were bad people in any way, unless you take the villain's "FromACertainPointOfView" for gospel -- or share his hatred of lawyers, overweight people, sex-workers, and vain women.
* {{Autocannibalism}}: The Sloth victim bit off and ate his own tongue.
** In the Zenescope GraphicNovel, John Doe cuts off his "[[SemperFi Semper Fidelis]]" tattoo with a knife and then eats it.
* AxCrazy: Why, John Doe.
* [[spoiler:TheBadGuyWins]]
* BaldOfEvil: John Doe.
* BalloonBelly: Gluttony eats [[WaferThinMint until he can't take it anymore]].
* BeautyEqualsGoodness: A good part of John Doe's self justification for the Gluttony murder.
** And yet he goes the opposite route with the Pride murder. His own sin, the one that he would admit to, is Envy after all.
* BigNo: [[spoiler: Mills after he discovers that his wife is dead]].
* BlackAndWhiteInsanity: John Doe, arguably. The film, however, does go out of its way to point out that John Doe ''isn't'' completely insane - which is in some ways even more frightening than if he was.
* BodyHorror: Gluttony, pride, sloth... and John Doe's removal of fingerprints.
* TheChessmaster: John Doe.
* CityWithNoName: It appears to be a composite of New York and Los Angeles [[CityNoir noir cities]].
* ClusterFBomb: Detective Mills, M-I-L-L-S, ''fuck off!''
-->'''Mills:''' Fucking Dante! Goddamn poetry-writing faggot, piece of shit! Fucker!
* CowboyCop: David Mills. Subverted as Mills is obviously trying to be one but instead comes across as naive and impulsive.
* CrapsackWorld: Detective Somerset and the villain seem to share this perspective on the world. At the end, Somerset states that the world is [[AWorldHalfFull still worth fighting for, even if it is a shithole]].
* CreativeClosingCredits: The grungy credits scroll up instead of down.
* CreepyMonotone: John Doe, most of the time.
* DeathByDisfigurement: Invoked with the Pride victim, who killed herself. [[spoiler:John Doe picked a very beautiful and vain woman and disfigured her, presumably to the point that plastic surgery would have been unable to restore her face. He then glued a phone into one hand (so she could call 911), and a bottle of sleeping pills into the other (so she could commit suicide). According to the villain, the woman was so full of pride that she swallowed the pills rather than go through the rest of her life with scars.]]
--->'''Dr. O'Neill:''' He cut off her nose.
--->'''Somerset:''' To spite her face.
* DeathByGluttony: Invoked with the Gluttony victim.
* DeathBySex: Invoked with the Lust victim. [[spoiler:A man was forced at gunpoint to wear a large razor-studded strap-on (strap-over?) with which he killed her by having sex with her.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: David Mills, so very much.
* DespairEventHorizon
* DressedAllInRubber: Latex bodysuits were implemented by the killer for Lust.
* DoingItForTheArt: All of the books in John Doe's apartment? They're ''all real.'' One of the special effects companies hired for the film spent two months ''hand-writing every single one of them''. Mostly by [[CrazyAwesome one guy]] who showed exceptional talent at writing journals like a crazy insane sociopath. [[NightmareFuel He even included an authentic suicide note]].
* EmpathicEnvironment: It's [[GrayRainOfDepression rain]][[PartlyCloudyWithAChanceOfDeath ing]] during most of the movie. The rain was meant to symbolize the third level of Hell, as described in [[DivineComedy Dante's Inferno]]. The idea is backed up by the numerous references to the work throughout the movie.
* EurekaMoment: When Mills mentions that "just because the fucker's got a library card doesn't make him [[StarWars Yoda]]", Somerset realizes that the [[FBIAgent FBI]] is able to track the killer based on his reading habits.
* ExecutiveMeddling: David Fincher didn't want to do the voice-over of Somerset that appears at the end of the film (see KnightInSourArmor; below), because he thought having a voice-over when there hadn't been one at any other point in the movie would be sloppy. The studio insisted, however, that the film end on [[YourMileageMayVary a slightly more upbeat note]] then what was scripted.
** And even that's debatable -- because it's the sigh of a tired old man who's seen too many horrors, but still keeps going out of what seems more like inertia than any actual belief that he can make anything better.
* FanDisservice: The Gluttony victim. He is naked on the autopsy table.
* FauxDeath: [[spoiler: Sloth.]]
* FilmNoir
* FingerInTheMail: [[spoiler: A package is received from the captured SerialKiller containing the head of his latest victim — Mills' wife.]]
* FollowTheLeader: Compare it with later ThemeSerialKiller flicks like ''Resurrection'', ''TakingLives'', ''Anamorph'', ''Horsemen'', ''WΔZ'', ''SuspectZero'' or ''{{Saw}}''. Of course that's not to say ''Se7en'' didn't borrow some elements from ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs''.
* ForceFeeding: Gluttony.
* FreudianExcuse: [[spoiler: Averted in the film; John Doe's actions are not attributed to a past since he never gives one. Played straight in the (non-canonical) comic books.]]
* GambitRoulette: Some of the murders are performed very impressively in terms of where and how they are discovered.
* {{Giallo}}: It isn't one, but the film's visuals seem to be heavily influenced by the genre.
* {{Gorn}}: Although it's mostly limited to {{Gory Discretion Shot}}s. Most of the horrors are unfilmable and left to our imagination.
** Which makes it even more terrifying. As an example, several people told Fincher that they couldn't believe he showed [[spoiler: Mills' wife's head in the box]]. Fincher responded by pointing out that at no point in the movie is this actually shown; the image is all in the audience's mind.
* GrayRainOfDepression: See EmpathicEnvironment above.
* GreenEyedMonster: John Doe says he [[spoiler: killed Mills's wife out of envy]]. Of course, given his agenda, he may have exaggerated [[spoiler: his envy]] just for that purpose.
* HannibalLecture: "It's more comfortable for you to label me insane."
* HeyItsThatGuy: Toby from the ''WestWing'', Dr Cox from ''{{Scrubs}}'', John Shaft from ''{{SHAFT}}'', Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from ''FullMetalJacket'', Funboy from ''TheCrow'' (in his first acting role after [[FatalMethodActing his accidental involvement]] in the death of Brandon Lee) and [[spoiler: some Hollywood star you may recognize.]] Oh, and [[BruceAlmighty God]].
* IRejectYourReality: John Doe, leading to his insane "sinners must be punished" mentality.
* IronicNickname: "Smiley" Somerset.
* ISurrenderSuckers: [[spoiler: A variation occurs at the climax. John Doe turns himself in, but only to ensure that his master plan of completing his "work" goes off without a hitch.]]
* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: When reading off names and titles of books, Mills pronounces the MarquisDeSade's name as "Marquis de Shar-day", like [[{{Sade}} the singer]].
* ItGotWorse: And how! The entire movie has this continuously, but the last ten minutes deserve special mention. It got a lot worse fast.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:What the serial killer is aiming for, at least in theory]].
* KirkSummation: {{Subverted}}. Det. Mills' rebuttal was spot on, but the villain ignored him and continued the [[HannibalLecture lecture]].
--> '''Doe:''' And after him I took the [[AmoralAttorney lawyer]], and both of you must have secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by ''lying'', with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets—
--> '''Mills:''' "Murderers."\\
'''Doe:''' A woman—\\
'''Mills:''' "Murderers", John. Like yourse—\\
'''Doe:''' ''A WOMAN! So ugly on the inside''...
* KnightInSourArmor: William Somerset's last line in the movie: "ErnestHemingway once wrote, '[[Literature/ForWhomTheBellTolls The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for]].' I agree with the second part."
* KnightTemplar: John Doe. Somerset doesn't doubt he believed in all his 'preaching'.
* LetMeAtHim
* Letters2Numbers: "V" is replaced by the [[SarcasmMode similar looking]] "7".
* MeaningfulName: "John Doe" is the police term for an unidentified body/suspect/victim/etc.
* MisanthropeSupreme: John Doe.
* MissionFromGod:
-->'''Doe:''' Don't ask me to pity those people. I don't mourn them any more than I do the thousands that died at Sodom and Gomorrah.\\
'''Somerset:''' Is that to say, John, that what you were doing was God's good work?\\
[''{{Beat}}'']\\
'''Doe:''' The Lord works InMysteriousWays.
* MotiveRant: John Doe while in the car.
* MrSmith: Johnathan Doe isn't his real name, but he takes it by choice.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning
* NecessarilyEvil: John Doe thinks his actions are this.
* [[NotWhatItLooksLike Not What It Sounds Like]]: Somerset says this to Mills when a list of books includes ''OfHumanBondage''.
* {{Novelization}}: Written by Anthony Bruno and based on the original script.
* OhGodWithTheTroping: This very page.
* OldCopYoungCop: This trope was once called SomersetAndMills.
* OminousMundanity: John Doe.
* OneSceneWonder: Michael Massee and Leland Orser.
** How about John Doe? He only appears in three scenes where he is chased by Mills, taken in a car by Somerset and Mills, and finally, [[spoiler: taken to a desert where he is finally killed.]]
* OutWithABang: Lust.
* PlayingAgainstType: RLeeErmey, the DrillSergeantNasty ''par excellence'', plays a mellow and soft-spoken police captain.
* PoeticSerialKiller: John Doe chooses victims he views as guilty of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, then kills them in a manner that he thinks [[KarmicDeath punishes the particular sin]] of which each is guilty.
* {{Prequel}}: Some surprisingly good comics by Zenescope Entertainment. They center on John and the victims.
* RedHerring: [[spoiler: Somerset's knife-throwing practice. It's seen several times in the movie, but never given practical application.]]
** Though it should be noted that in the actual movie script, [[spoiler: Somerset did use his knife-throwing skill to try to stop Mills from shooting John Doe.]]
** Also possibly [[spoiler:the dog carcass.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Somerset and Mills. The Blue is a fatherly mentor trying to harden the Red's heart to the harsh realities of life, and the young and emotional Red [[spoiler: loses EVERYTHING to BigBad and CompleteMonster John Doe.]]
* RoomFullOfCrazy: John Doe's apartment.
* SaltAndPepper: Somerset (black) and Mills (white).
* SerialKiller: John Doe is an extremely disturbing example.
* SevenDeadlySins
* ShameIfSomethingHappened: John Doe talking about [[spoiler:Mills' wife]].
* ShoutOut: There is a store called [[TheSilenceOfTheLambs Wild Bill's Leather Shop]].
** William Somerset is named after W. Somerset Maugham, [[AuthorAppeal as he was screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker's favourite author]]. Somerset Maugham's ''OfHumanBondage'' is mentioned in the movie.
* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer[=/=]NotNamedInOpeningCredits: John Doe is played by [[spoiler:Kevin Spacey]]. ''He'' was the one who insisted that he not be associated with the film in any way until it was released. The producers actually wanted him to have top billing. The man is very, very dedicated to his craft.
** As a result of this, his name is the very first thing seen during the closing credits; the ''second'' line is, "Cast (in order of appearance)."
** He also said it worked to his advantage, since that meant he didn't have to appear on talk shows and stuff to promote the movie.
* SirSwearsALot: David Mills.
* SomebodyElsesProblem:
-->'''Somerset:''' Well, in any major city, [[ApatheticCitizens minding your own business]] is a science. First thing they teach women in rape prevention is never cry for help. Always yell "fire." Nobody answers to "help." You holler "fire," they come running.
* StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred
* StuffedIntoTheFridge: [[spoiler: Mills' wife Tracy.]]
* SuicideByCop: [[spoiler:John Doe's death.]]
* SuspectIsHatless: How John Doe is described by his neighbours.
* TearOffYourFace: The Pride victim has her face mutilated and nose cut off by John Doe.
* ThanatosGambit: [[spoiler:John Doe dies for his cause.]]
* ThemeSerialKiller
* TheScourgeOfGod: John Doe.
* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: John Doe.
* ThrowItIn: Brad Pitt broke his arm filming the scene he chases John Doe. Although [[{{Irony}} the script required a (probably minor) injury]], the cast and such were written into the film.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** An alternate ending revealed that [[spoiler:John Doe did not murder Mills' wife, only substituting a lookalike. Mills then has no justification for killing an unarmed man, and will spend the rest of his life in jail. Somerset decides not to retire, and instead gives his country house to Mills' wife and her unborn baby]].
** Another alternate ending features [[BloodstainedGlassWindows a dramatic shootout in a burning, dilapidated church]] [[spoiler: in which Mills dies]], and yet ''another'' had [[spoiler: ''Somerset'' killing John Doe in order to 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.]]
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: The name of the city is never specified. Tracy at one point mentions that she and David used to live "upstate", presumably referring to upstate New York, and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker said that the screenplay was heavily inspired by his time spent in New York, but that's about it.
** In the novelization, Mills and his wife lived in a town named ''Springfield'' (probably Springfield, New York) before they moved to the city.
* WickedCultured: John Doe. He uses the works of WilliamShakespeare, Milton, Chaucer, Dante, the Marquis de Sade and St. Thomas Aquinas, among others, as inspirations for his crimes.
* WretchedHive: The massive [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield unnamed]] city where it takes place is a rainswept hell of apathy and suffering. Writer Andrew Kevin Walker describes the script as his [[TakeThat "love letter to New York."]]
* WrittenInInfirmity: After Brad Pitt severed a tendon in his hand, scenes were added to show why his character was wearing a cast.
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