Sam McLeish's Textual Analysis of 'Seven' (David Fincher, 1995)

Key 
Camerawork
Editing
Mise en scene
Sound track



In complete honesty, there is no easy way to describe the opening of 'Seven' as it is one of the most confusing openings to a thriller film I have come across. However, this is a great advantage to the producer because, like me, the audience is befuddled at the content which makes it perfect for a thriller film, as it is omniscient. 



Image 1

For example, image 1, the first scene that is presented to the audience, is an ECU shot of a book with graphics added in post-production. The general consensus between the graphics in this sequence is that they move around a lot but not just not enough so that it is illegible because the font is like scrawly handwriting. This is effective because the audience can't focus easily on the writing and as it keeps moving, nothing is clear, just like the actual props filmed in the scene because they are all unique. Although this may be frustrating for an audience, it is effective because it makes them more aware of what is happening in the scene. 



Image 2

Secondly, what is also clever for this sequence is that the duration of each clip varies from each other. It is to be expected for a thriller film opening to be upbeat and for there to be frequent cuts from clip to clip but 'Seven's' style isn't typical for the industry. For example, in comparison to 'The American' (the previous thriller sequence I analysed), they separated the short clips for the more tense scenes and reserved the longer clips for scenes where tension isn't required. 

In 'Seven',  the entirety of the opening is a mix of all different durations. For example, image 1 was on screen for a total of two seconds whilst the drawing of hands (image 2) is on screen for a total of five seconds. As a result, I feel that the director did this so that the audience could still get to absorb all the information they need but, as the hands had more detail on them, it required more screen time.

Image 3

The majority of the shots used in this sequence are ECU shots of different objects or diagrams. For example, in image 3 of the razor blade, it's so close up that it's not until the person holding it flips and the audience can see the hollow bit within it. However, this could be a POV shot as well because the camera is looking down onto it with a low angle.

Also at the same time of image 3, the non-diegetic, off-screen synthesised ambient noise which sounds like a whirr of a machine also adds to the tense thriller sense because it is nearly impossible to tell what the origin of the sound is. 

Image 4

Next, the camera cuts to an image of what appears to be a tea bag dunked into water. What is significant is that the person's fingernails are extremely dirty, as seen in the left of the ECU. This suggests that with the montage of perverted images, he has been doing something ominous, adding the tension for the thriller.

Image 5

Image 5 lasts only a fraction of a second because, obviously, it's quite gruesome. However, this is useful for a thriller sequence because it is disorientating for the audience because they can't tell what it is, and as they assume it is something scary, it contributes as well to the sequence. 

Also, the images of torture like in image 5 connote the idea to the audience that either the person shot in the film has either committed these crimes or have been following them. This then suggests that the character is someone to be fear and as such, it becomes a tense scene.

Images 6a through c are important because the graphics move in the space of a second. As you can see in the pictures, the graphics move each time. This shows that like the audience, the graphics 'are on the edge'. This is good for the thriller film because it develops the tension in the scene.



Image 6a

             Image 6c

Image 6b

Image 7

What should also be noted is that the audience can also hear diegetic, off-screen floorboards that are creaking loudly at the same time as image 6. This gives the impression that the audience are being followed (despite the fact that neither the character or the audience are moving), but still, our natural instincts  make us tense when we hear these noises that tell us that we have to leave.

Further along in the sequence, image 7 is a ECU of a book is layered on top of an image of the book from a different angle. This is a shot that shows that the character is now gloved, suggesting that he doesn't want to be identified by the authorities. This creates enigma for the audience because in an earlier shot he was without any gloves and now he is. This also makes the audience question the logic and adds to the engagement in the thriller.

From the one minute mark (approx.), the introduction of rock music to the mix of strange noises indicates some normality, despite the fact that this isn't the case with the images. However, this allows the audience to understand that although presented in a unique, the character is still is a relatble scene or situation. Regardless of this, it is still a thriller sequence because of it as it still a big mess of sound.

Image 8

Image 8 is of a film-strip covered in a red liquid, most probably to develop it. This is important because it is one of the first bold colours to be seen in the entirety of the scene. Whether this was applied as a filter or was filmed in scene, it is interesting because it appears in the last minute of the scene. This suggests to the audience that the character is investigating or has committed a murder as the red liquid connotes blood. 

Finally, the scene ends with a loud diegetic, off-screen noise most probably for effect. This is useful because the audience then gets startled when watching this which leads to tension being created. This is what is wanted in a thriller scene.

Overall, I feel that this scene was good for an opening to a thriller but I personally feel that it would have been more effective if there was a variation of shots. However, what this scene did very well was creating two different conflicting bits of information that our brains have to absorb which are the visuals and the soundtrack. As they conflict, we can only focus on one so it means that it creates confusion that later leads to tension. 

What I would have stolen from this sequence is the use of loud noises to add tension to the atmosphere. 

My target audience (17 - 25 years olds) would like this sequence because a confusing scene is more interesting to look at. This then, therefore, makes the thriller worthwhile because it clear that the audience are engaged with the sequence.