David Fincher’s 1995 classic Seven tells of two detectives, Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, who are after a serial killer who bases his killings by man’s seven deadly sins.
At the near end of the movie, Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) and Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) are re-entering the police station trying to figure out where to look next for the killer John Doe. All of a sudden behind them comes John Doe the killer (portrayed by Kevin Spacey) into the police station, turning himself in. He later talks to the authorities and his lawyer that he can take Detective Mills and Somerset to two more bodies and will plead guilty in court or if they don’t take cooperate with him he will plead insanity. The detectives agree to the request so that they can end this long and defiant case of murders.
The three, Doe, Mills and Somerset travel out to the desert too find the two bodies with an S.W.A.T helicopter above them tracking all their movements. In the car, Doe explains his reasons for his killings and claims they were wicked people and wanted to show the world its own corruption. They get to the desert and wait for Doe to show them the whereabouts of the other two bodies. But a delivery van pulls up claiming the driver was paid $500 if he was to deliver a package out to the desert. Somerset goes over to open the package to see what’s inside. He opens the box to discover the decapitated head of Mills’ wife. He yells over to Mills to ignore whatever Doe tells him as he rushes over to stop Mills from shooting Doe. Doe starts telling Mills how he admires his life and wanted to be part of it. He confesses that killed his wife in the process also telling Mills that he had an unborn child of which he didn’t know. Due to all the rage built within Mills which he tries to hold back but soon gives in, he shoots Doe, unleashing every bullet in his gun upon him. Somerset stands their helpless knowing that Mills gave in to Doe’s plan and that Mills and himself lost and Doe won. Mills becomes the sin of wrath by killing Doe. Somerset finds out before Mill’s shoot him that this was Doe’s plan all along of being killed by Mills as a part of his seven deadly sins act.
At time 120 minutes and 14 seconds, there is the shot of detective Mills unleashing the bullets upon Doe’s body with Somerset standing with his body looking the other way showing defeat. The sky is a shade of dark green, this very eerie to me, because it shows the evil that has consumed the sky. The camera is at a low angle showing the power of Detective Mills and Somerset over Doe’s power. They’re supposed to be the justice in the movie; usually it’s the police vs. criminals, good vs. evil. Mills thinks by killing Doe he has over powered him and has won. Actually though, in a way Mills is the weakest one of the whole shot. The only thing the electrical tower can be represented as Doe himself and how powerful he actually is compared to the detectives. The electrical tower has two handles on each side of it. One side has wires crossing through Mills but on the other side no wires are seen or going through Somerset. This represents Mills still a puppet being part of the act, controlled by Doe and not being able to do the right thing or be free. He has given in and been consumed by Doe’s wrath. Doe was the puppet master, the whole show was under his control to show the world its own reflection it the mirror. Mill was always the weak minded one and played into Doe’s hands. But Somerset broke through the strings and relied on his own senses to not be controlled by Doe. He was the second strongest one of the shot. He tried to help Mills to make the right choice but Mills was too blinded by vengeance to do that. By Somerset being turned away it shows his disappointment within Mills and how he admits their defeat.
What else can the three figures (including the electrical tower) represent?
Mr. Cowlin here. Are there any points Brandon makes that you find particularly engaging? How about anything you disagree with?
