"Se7en"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the film "Se7en" has often been referred to as imitating the popular mid-twentieth century style of film noir and attempts to support this statement by looking at various conventions of this style and seeing how these conventions apply and affect the film itself. It shows how "Se7en" is filmed around the basic principles of traditional crime noir, in an attempt to group itself in the new emerging category of film noirs the modern noirs. It also looks at how with the use of dim lighting, unbalanced compositions, character and plot traditions and rain-soaked settings, "Se7en" seems to suit the label "modern noir" well.

From the Paper:

"The character and plot themes that run throughout include those that deal with the dark and inhumane side of human nature, including topics such as doomed love and cynicism, two frequently used topics in crime noirs. Tracy and Mills' happy marriage was doomed due to the sinful ways of the world, while Somerset's cynicism is proved well-founded time and time again as he deals with more disturbing cases as his career progresses, triggering his desire for retirement. Themes of crime noir also emphasize a brutal and unhealthy side of the human experience, shown through the exposure of humans' sins in the murderer's killing spree. They aim to express the depressing realism of life which is the message Doe is attempting to portray through his murders the world is doomed because of humanity's endless sinning."

More papers on "Se7en":

• Film Review # 120330 : "The Horror Movie "Se7en"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: