Serial killer punishes sinners in Seven

by John Sun

A sickly, obese man lies lifeless in a pool of cold spaghetti and vomit, having recently been force-fed to death at gunpoint. His killer writes "Gluttony," one of the seven deadly sins, in grease on the kitchen wall.

Disgusted yet?

Set in an unnamed, violence-infested city, Seven stars Kevin Spacey as a twisted serial killer intent on completing his masterplan of seven murders based on the seven deadly sins. Hot on the trail are detectives Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, one calm and calculating, the other hot-tempered and impulsive. Chasing the killer (labeled John Doe) across the city, the partners find themselves constantly one step behind.

Kevin Spacey turns in a commendable performance as a methodical and vicious killer so dedicated to his task, he slices the skin off his hand so as not to leave fingerprints. Spacey's sullen and monotonous tone sharply contrast his character's maniacal nature; with his cold smile and piercing eyes, Spacey awakens comparisons to Hannibal Lector.

Freeman, following up an award-winning performance in The Shawshank Redemption, plays Lieutenant William Somerset, a worn-out cop six days away from retirement after 35 years on the force. I found Pitt unconvincing as the ill-tempered rookie who tries too hard to dramatize his character's simple role.

I don't suggest the film for the weakhearted, and I found many scenes leaving me feeling light-headed. Scrawled across the wall written in blood, the word "Greed" labels the scene of the second killing where a hotshot, money-grubbing attorney is forced to carve out a portion of his own flesh to satisfy his vengeful assailant. For the sin "lust," Doe forces a man to kill a prostitute during intercourse. The horror of this scene multiplies as the camera focuses on the man's destroyed psyche.

The film lacks glitzy special effects and gutwrenching action, focusing instead on an intense storyline which builds speed to an incredibly climactic ending. Dark and foreboding, with dancing shadows and sparsely lit rooms, Seven , though not the feel good film of the year, offers sound acting, an enveloping storyline and a villain who makes Freddy look tame.