Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21434 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-02-26
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 122 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The most viscerally frightening and disturbing homicidal maniac picture since The Silence of the Lambs, Seven is based on an idea that's both gruesome and ingenious. A serial killer forces each of his victims to die by acting out one of the seven deadly sins. The murder scene is then artfully arranged into a grotesque tableau, a graphic illustration of each mortal vice. From the jittery opening credits to the horrifying (and seemingly inescapable) concluding twist, director David Fincher immerses us in a murky urban twilight where everything seems to be rotting, rusting, or moulding; the air is cold and heavy with dread. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt are the detectives who skillfully track down the killer--all the while unaware that he has been closing in on them, as well. Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey are also featured, but it is director Fincher and the ominous, overwhelmingly oppressive atmosphere of doom that he creates that are the real stars of the film. It's a terrific date movie--for vampires. --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com

Video Description
Disc 2, Added value:

Opening Sequence
Deleted Scenes
Extended takes
Alternate endings
Production Design
Still photographs
Filmographies
The Notebooks
Promotional Material
Mastering For The Theater

Synopsis
Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust--these are the seven deadly sins that are being punished with unimaginable cruelty and calculation by an enigmatic killer in David Fincher's bleak thriller SEVEN. Set in a perpetually gloomy unnamed city, the film follows Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a retiring police detective, as he experiences his final week on the job, reluctantly working with assertive newcomer Mills (Brad Pitt). When an obese man is found brutally murdered in his home, the seasoned Somerset realizes this is no ordinary killing--someone tortured him because of his appetite. Slayings that reflect the sins of greed and sloth soon follow, leading Somerset and Mills on a desperate search to find the mysterious John Doe, who is responsible for these methodical murders. As the case builds to a startling conclusion, both Somerset and Mills become more involved than they ever could have imagined.
After a brief opening scene, SEVEN immediately cuts to a highly stylized title sequence. An intricate collage of books and photos, scissors and razors, and blood and skin eerily captures the dark, graphic tone of Fincher's intriguing mystery. The film cleverly avoids depicting most acts of violence onscreen, focusing instead on the cryptic remains of the crimes, allowing viewers to investigate along with the detectives. An example of nearly flawless filmmaking, the movie features a meticulously crafted screenplay, brilliant photography and design, sure-handed direction, and excellent performances from the entire cast. All of these elements combine to amazing effect in the film's unforgettably stunning finale.

Customer Reviews

A fantastic film on a very bleak dvd
Seven is in my opinion the greatest thriller of the 90's, a disturbingly dark film which captivates its audiences and draws them into a world of evil and sin. The cast are all superb, especially the two detectives Mills and Summerset, played by the uncanny ability of Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. One a tempermental rookie, the other an aged retirement-bound cop, together they try to solve a case where a man is cruelly murdering his victims based on the seven deadly sins. This leads us to an unforgettable conclusion where all the themes of the films are intervined and drawn out with devastating power.
This 'two disc set' is in my eyes a major disappointment for a film of Seven's magnitude. The special features are awkwardly displayed and takes a bit of getting used to. The deleted scenes are OK but like most films, it is obvious why they were not included in the final cut. I always look for a comprehensive documentary in such an edition, but sadly it does not arrive. Plus-points are the picture and sound transfer is top notch; you will think it is raining outside! This does not compensate however for a two disc set which is nowhere near as good as it could have been.
Seven is one of the most chilling and exciting films to grace the screen, and for this it deserves to be part of any DVD collection out there. Along with Fight Club, it ranks as David Fincher's greatest achievement. I have gave it five stars for the film itself, not for the package. You could almost fit the entire features and the film itself into a solitary disc.

Se7en Deadly Sins
In Se7en, Daivd Fincher (director of Fight Club and Panic Room) conjures up a delightfully bleak helping of moody, noir-esque thrills around Andrew Kevin Walker's ingenious and engaging script. Se7en is set in a quintessential American city (we are never told which one), where the arm of the law is never quite long enough to prevent the city's criminal underbelly from indulging in all sorts of sinful activity.

Against this backdrop we find the film's two protagonists, played by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman who both deliver fine performances. Pitt plays the young, idealistic and motivated Detective Mills, who is the perfect foil to the pragmatic and world weary Detective Lt William Somerset, played by Freeman.

Mills and Somerset are assigned to hunt down the sociopathic serial killer John Doe, whose murders are grisly sermons designed to warn a corrupt society of the consequences of the seven deadly sins (gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy and wrath). Each of his murders becomes an ironic example of the dangers of each sin; his victims are punished for the deadly sin they embody by being forced to indulge in it until it kills them.

Unfortunately for Mills and Somerset, John Doe is as intelligent as he is disturbed, and they can do little but follow in his wake to pick up the pieces until he unexpectedly turns himself in...

Although some people might find the plot a bit too twisty, and the story a bit too morbid, all in all this is a fast paced and witty film, with superb acting from a great cast (also including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey). This film will leave you guessing until the brain-bendingly clever finale.

As you've probably guessed by now, this isn't the kind of film to watch if you're in need of cheering up. In fact I would go so far as to say that this is one of the most depressing films I have seen for a long time. This film will take you to a dark and frightening place. Crucially though, it's not only dark but interesting and (in a way) enjoyable, highly recommended.

Five star film. Three star extra features.
This is a quality psychological thriller, with the emphasis on psycho. It's a dark film with lots of rain, shady scenery and gory murders. But if you're not affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), not put off by a story about the darkest side of life and not shocked by blood, buy it now.

The film moves at a good pace, and twists and turns to great effect. The acting is also something to write home about. Morgan Freeman cannot be faulted as usual, Brad Pitt plays a good part and Kevin Spacey is chilling in his role as the killer.

Now to the two-CD special edition. The best parts of the two discs are the commentaries. Not only can you listen to David Fincher, Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, but you can also hear from the screen writer and others. Sometimes it leads to a bit of waffle, but the majority is interesting. The rest of the features are fillers in my opinion and don't lead to any greater insight into the film or its makers.

For this reason I'd probably go for the one disc edition if it's cheaper - especially if this already includes the commentaries (which are featured on Disc 1 of the Special Edition anyway).

So the long and the short of it is that the film is a total winner. Don't expect a cross between Driving Miss Daisy (Morgan Freeman) and Legends of the Fall (Brad Bitt) though - as one poor couple at the first screenings did, according to one of the commentaries. You'll be shocked and possibly scarred for life.