It's amazing that this week is the twentieth anniversary of the theatrical release of the neo-noir thriller Se7en. It shocked audiences with its horrifically philosophical message, put director David Fincher on the map, and gave us one of the greatest lines of dialogue in film history: "What's in the box?"
Se7en is a defining film of the 1990s, a decade that pushed the boundaries of stylized imagery, dark themes, and genre categories. And it showed the 16-year-old me how films can be grisly and terrifying, while narratively enlightening. To celebrate Se7en, I have created a short video analysis of its epitomizing scene--and it's probably not one you are thinking of. It is in these few minutes, as I explain, that the film signifies its larger intent and thematic conflict. Enjoy!
Se7en is a defining film of the 1990s, a decade that pushed the boundaries of stylized imagery, dark themes, and genre categories. And it showed the 16-year-old me how films can be grisly and terrifying, while narratively enlightening. To celebrate Se7en, I have created a short video analysis of its epitomizing scene--and it's probably not one you are thinking of. It is in these few minutes, as I explain, that the film signifies its larger intent and thematic conflict. Enjoy!