Released in 1995, (stylized as SE7EN ) is a landmark crime thriller directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker . Set in a bleak, unnamed, and perpetually rainy city, the film follows retiring Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and his hot-tempered new partner, David Mills (Brad Pitt), as they hunt a meticulous serial killer named John Doe (Kevin Spacey) who uses the seven deadly sins as his motive and "masterpiece" [1, 8, 13]. The Thematic Framework
: Particularly "The Parson’s Tale," which discusses the seven deadly sins [6, 7]. Seven: Se7en
: A man forced to eat until his stomach ruptures [13, 14]. Released in 1995, (stylized as SE7EN ) is
: The studio originally wanted a more mainstream ending, but David Fincher and Brad Pitt fought to keep the original "head in a box" conclusion, with Pitt refusing to sign on unless the ending remained unchanged [1]. : A man forced to eat until his stomach ruptures [13, 14]
: Cited for the quote, "Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light," left at the Gluttony scene [6, 7, 25].
The script draws heavily from classic literature to build its moral and hellish atmosphere:
: Referenced during the Greed investigation regarding the "pound of flesh" [7]. Notable Production Facts